Supporting A Friend - Mr Jon-Marc Creaney (scarpadog)

Before I get into this blogpost I just wanted to quickly say thanks to everyone who donated to my charity www.justgiving.com/kenneth-martin. We have now reached our target of raising a massive £5000 for Yorkhill's Sick Children's Hospital, following the anniversary of my kidney to my dad. A massive thank you.

Now on the issue of fundraising this brings me onto the topic of the post. My former colleague and good friend Jon-Marc Creaney is currently going through treatment for Cancer. He is posting remarkable insights into his journey of recovery on his blog which you can follow here.

So, many of Jon-marc's friends are doing much fundraising for The Beatsons a charity which is devoted to helping people like Jon-marc through his recovery period. My wife Sandra and Jon-marc both attend the local Lanarkshire Business Group who are running a disco fundraiser for The Beatsons in association with Jon-Marc's Charity. If you would like to donate to this wonderful Charity you can find a link to the just giving page by clicking here.

EVERY PENNY HELPS SO PLEASE DONATE NOW

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Anniversary Of The Kidney Donation

And what a difference a year makes. Yes it on the 25th of August, only 2 days away, we will all celebrate the anniversary of the kidney donation. Quite a topical subject following the recent announcement on the news where the Government are considering paying for kidneys. What happened to that plan?

I am very pleased to say that both dad and myself now appear to be back to a 100% recovery. The kidney(my donnor kidney) is performing very well and my dad to date has suffered no set backs what so ever. Testimony perhaps to a fantastic team of surgeons and aftercare via Stobhill Clinic.

On behalf of my dad and I we would dearly like to thank all of the transplant team and a special thanks also to the renal team at Monklands Hospital for their fantastic support prior to the operation.

I've just remembered, and it seems funny to recollect, the week before the operation when my dad sprained his ankle and both mum and I had to support him into bed. We were all panic striken at the thought of the operation being cancelled but of course that didn't happen.

Dad is just back from Cambridge visiting my sister and I am also pleased to confirm that he went swimming with Elissa, his 2 year old grand daughter. Something he never thought he would ever be able to do. It was worth it all in the end and I never had any doubt.


So you will also all remember that we were raising funds for Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow and in particular their renal unit. I am very pleased to confirm that we raised (to date) £4746-00.

This is a little short of our £5000 figure that we hoped to achieve so if you are sitting reading this and have an emotional link or connection with the story or Yorkhill, then please do donate and help us get over the target.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

Online Auction - Invicta Watch - Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Here's a fantastic Auction Prize in aid of our Charity Yorkhill Children's Foundation and in Particular their Renal Unit.

Most of you will remember my Kidney Donation to my dad Hugh which happened on the 25th August 2010 and it was a huge success.

We have now raised £3445 for charity and wish to see this get to £4000 before Christmas.

So here's the deal. We are going to Auction this watch online NOW and will be doing so in £25 bids. The watch is kindly donated by Tom McCulloch of INVICTA UK and is currently valued at £200. Bidding will close at 12:00 mid day on Friday 17th Dec 2010, just in time for Christmas.

This will make a fantastic Christmas Present for any gent. Do we have £50 to start the bidding?

Just Add your bid as a comment below or email me and I'll add it for you.

Please 'Like' The Invicata Facebook Page by clicking here.

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The Day Before #The Kidney Donation

This is a quick picture post of Dad, Me and his girls Elissa (on his knee,my niece) and my two girls Olivia and Ava. We are sporting the T-shirts proudly provided by Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

As I am writing this I just wanted you all to know that I am very humbled by everyone's support and well wishes.

I am also amazed at the number of people who have also contacted me to wish us well and then explained how Kidney Problems have effected either themsleves or someone that they know. It's really quite a common problem, much more so that one would initially think...

Anyway I am feeling well and I am in the right mind. Dad never slept last night but I surely did and I will sleep well tonight. Follow our updates at www.facebook.com/blockarchitects or www.facebook.com/feelfabfaster.

If you have yet to do so you can also donate through www.justgiving.com/kenneth-martin

The Kidney Donation - Art Auction Raising Funds For Yorkhill Children's Foundation,Glasgow

Jack Frame - 'Spring Blossom Looking Toward Glasgow'

The Auction...

This is your opportunity to obtain a fascinating oil painting 'Spring Blossom Looking Toward Glasgow' which is very kindly donated to our fundraising cause by Mr Jack Frame. Thank You Jack. This is immense. Please read on and I will tell you how to bid...

All proceeds from the eventual winner will top up our fundraising pot for Yorkhill Hospital, all in association with my forthcoming kidney donation on 25th August 2010. I am looking to get bids in excess of its Value of £895. For the eventual lucky winner ‘The Studio Fine Art Company’ will provide the provenance & valuation as well as a photo opportunity with Jack himself…

More About The Artist...

A sell-out star at Glasgow School of Art’s degree show in 2007, Jack Frame has been building steadily on this early promise, working through his fascination with trees and the natural world as a metaphor for the bigger picture.

Still in his mid-20s, Frame, who was shortlisted for the prestigious Jolomo Award for Landscape Painting in 2009, is hotly tipped to become one of Scotland’s most collectable contemporary artists. An exhibition of the finalists work, including Jack’s will be taking place in London this September.

Frame has just completed a successful showing of his work at the RGI Gallery in Glasgow this August and thereafter will be taking up the post of Artist in Residence at The Studio Fine Art Company, Glasgow’s newest contemporary Gallery in Bath Street http://www.thestudiofineart.com/ where his work will be on permanent exhibition. At the Gallery you will have the opportunity to meet Jack Frame and as well as the exhibited work you can commission a more personal piece from the artist himself. Please read on and I will tell you how to bid...

How To Bid...

The Auction will close on the morning of the operation ie 9:00am on the 25th August 2010. I will probably be in theatre by then! We would invite all interested parties to leave ther name and email address in the 'comment' section below. We would kindly ask for £50 bids to get us started.

Alternatively if you cannot for any reason access the comments section below please contact me personally by email and I will had your bid for you.

Finally, thank you for your interest and if anyone wishes to see the painting prior to bidding I am happy to say that I currently have it displayed at home and that I will happily allow a viewing and a coffee or wine.

PLEASE POST YOUR BIDS NOW BELOW.

Thank You on behalf of myself and Yorkhill Children's Foundation

#thekidneydonation - Raising Money For Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Meet Lucas - We Want You To Help Him...

22 month old Lucas suffers from a rare bone disease.... To Read more please click on the link to find out how Yorkhill Children's Foundation help and assists kids like ours...


To understand how your donations will help kids like Lucas please click here


I've just put our two healthy daughter's to bed. Lucas is not quite so fortunate. Please donate now to our charity via www.justgiving.com/kenneth-martin

Kenneth Martin is fundraising for Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Kenneth Martin is fundraising for Yorkhill Children's Foundation

On the 25th August 2010, I will donate a kidney to a man (my dad) which all going well will afford him the luxury of participating in the lives of his 3 young grand daughters. It will also afford my 2 daughters Olivia and Ava, and my young niece Elissa with the luxury of knowing that their papa can now do simple things with them like take them to the swimming baths.

In order to afford this luxury to others, our family have decided to raise funds both pre and post operation to assist Yorkhill Children's Charity. Our proceeds will assist other families and children with renal difficulties and offer them some hope with their troubles.

Dig Deep now and visit our donation page at Just Giving

I will be in hopsital for approximately 1 week and have been told to 'take it easy' for a few weeks afterwards. If anyone has any daring activities that they would like to see me participate in post operation then please contact us on our facebook page