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The BIG Lottery Fund mounted a contest with ITV. Across the week of 26 to 30th November, good causes competed on ITV in a bid to secure public support by telephone votes.
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This project became real on the 29th of November when the four losers had a second chance to win funding. Because of the high number of telephone votes we received we won the runners-up prize. We now have a grant of £80,000 to build the 'Peace & Tranquility Room' at the MS Society's Osborne Centre, West Parley, Dorset.
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WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO SUCCESS!!
Rod Slip, Chairman. Monday 3 December 2007.
As you will no doubt know, the Bournemouth Branch were in the last eight of the "Peoples Millions" lottery fund competition for our project to build a Peace & Tranquility room at the Osborne Day Centre. The outcome hung on the public voting by telephone on Tuesday the 27th of November. The result was devastating to all of us, as we lost out to Bembridge Friendly Circle who wanted the money for a new mini-bus.
It was hard to pick ourselves up off the floor but we still had a one in four chance of being the runner up with the highest number of votes cast for each of the four losers. You can no doubt imagine out total elation at being told we were the lucky one and would be awarded a grant.
It was hard to keep the secret, as well as convince people to come to the centre for 6pm on the Friday, when we are normally closed, but as usual when needs must some 60 people braved the weather and the traffic to rally round.
So that Friday we were presented with a cheque for £80,000 on live television by Gareth Evans of Meridian South.
On behalf of all the members of Bournemouth branch may I say a HUGE thankyou to everyone who supported us by ringing and ringing – you are all fantastic!
I sincerely hope it will raise everyone's spirits as MS awareness has now been put into the spotlight and proved to us all that it CAN be done with a little (no, A LOT) of help from our friends. The "feel good" factor has reached a state of euphoria as it has proved that teamwork and perseverance can reap rewards. Please feel free to use our success to spur you on to reach your own goals and dreams – if one branch can do it, so can others.
As you helped us, please let us know if we can return the favour.
As a final note, I would like to pass on our congratulations to the other four contestants who were successful in winning their grant. Our heartfelt commiserations go out to the three who were unsuccessful.
Rod Slip.
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