Well done Howard!

As some of our TDP readers may recall, back in December Howard Marshall travelled over to Toruń to take part in the Santa Claus Half Marathon. He managed to raise 500GBP for the UK charity Global Footsteps.

You can read our coverage of his visit to Toruń here:

http://torundailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/santa-half-marathon.html

http://torundailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/santas-in-town.html

Here he is a couple of weeks ago presenting the cheque. Global Footsteps is an educational charity which aims to foster inter-cultural relations between linked communities. It is based in Cheltenham, UK which is twinned with Gottingen, Germany which itself is twinned with Toruń!

You can read more about Global Footsteps at www.global-footsteps.org .

All in the Name of Charity!

Yesterday, the whole of Poland united together for the 18th Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomoocy, a huge annual event that helps raise money for sick children. Toruń was one of the host cities meaning that we had live TV coverage beamed from the old market square...and many wild and wonderful events. These ranged from getting as many people to stand in a heart with balloons to some crazy folks who ran around town in nothing more than some swimming costumes. And yep...Toruń is around minus 8 at the moment with loads of snow! All in the name of charity!

Mr. Man in Red 2009

Jeff Poland, Man in Red, Charleston, S.C.

Busy days kids, but can't say they are boring!

Today was the grand finale of our Men in Red fundraising prank and it couldn't have gone more successfully. This is a play on the Red Dress being the national symbol for heart disease awareness. In our hospital the gentleman we raise the most money for has to wear a red dress through the hospital and have lunch in the cafeteria.

Woohoo! The women's services team had asked Jeff Poland from Robin's & Morton Construction to represent them. They raised over $2,500 in his name with bake and book sales. I almost died laughing when they did his promo pictures with all the nurses wearing construction helmets while he squeezed into his Goodwill evening gown.

This morning he paraded through the hospital passing out chocolate kisses, posing with the nurses and serving up cake to the staff. it was absolutely hilarious. What a great sport. He didn't know that his boss was going to show up to escort him.

Altogether we raised just over $17,000.00 for the American Heart Association just with this fun prank. Thanks Jeff!