Tuesday 19 February 2013

Funds for Gretel

The craft community has always been known for its generosity and caring nature, so it probably comes as no surprise that crafters have set up an online raffle to help another very talented crafter.

It's an unbelievably sad story.  Gretel's partner recently took his own life - and, as if that isn't bad enough, it's left Gretel not knowing whether she can carry on living in the cottage she described not so long ago as their "forever home".  Money cannot even come close to making up for what has happened, but it could help to ease her dreadful burden a little and give her a little breathing space in what must be an incredibly difficult time.

Nobody is asking for a donation from you - but if you could purchase a raffle ticket then it really would help to raise some much-needed funds.  There are some amazing and very beautiful prizes to be won - lovely, gorgeous, beautifully designed and handmade items.  There's also a week's holiday in a family's own holiday cottage being offered as the star prize.


Without wanting to make you sob like I'm doing right now, please, please, please take a few minutes to head over to the Funds for Gretel Facebook page or the Funds for Gretel blog.  There are instructions there for how to buy tickets.  And if all you can spare is £1, then please just buy one ticket - it will help.  And, of course, you may win something wonderful.  You have until 30th March to buy tickets.

If you are in America, you can find out more and donate here,

If you want to know why I'm asking you to do this, please read Gretel's blog post.  It's heartbreaking.  But you should read it.

9 comments:

Ali said...

I'll will be heading over to buy a ticket and to read Gretel's story. If you don't mind I'll put the button in my sidebar to let readers know about the raffle. Off to get tissues before reading. Take care.
Ali x

MadBirdDesignsUK said...

Thank you for promoting this very worthy cause. I am a member of Gretels blog. So have been on the case from the start. So sad and so close to my heart and life experiences. x Joan

Wendy said...

Ali, thank you. The more people who can publicise this the better.

Joan, thanks for your comment. It is indeed incredibly sad.

Bev Newman said...

I've shared this over on facebook. Gretel's story is so heart-rending and the empathy she shows for her husband is immense. My mum died of natural causes when I was very young and I can remember the "shell shock" all the adults around us experienced. I can't imagine how much worse it could be had there been a risk to the roof over our heads too x

Wendy said...

Thanks Bev. A death is always a shocking event and much more so when the person isn't elderly. I think the more people can share this story, the more money can be raised - every little adds up.

Louise said...

I've read it and donated. This is so unbelievably sad but this page is fantastic and I really hope it helps. Well done for setting it up.

Wendy said...

Thank you for donating Louise - I can't take any credit for setting it up though, all I am doing here is helping to spread the word in my own small way. I don't know Gretel (unless you count admiring her via her blog), I was just touched and saddened by her story.

Anna from Little Crab Designs said...

wow... what a sad story.. I have bought tickets, checked out gretel's website - what a talented lady! - and will be spreading the word about this fundraising effort on our blog, facebook, twitter etc - stories like this make you appreciate the things you have in life (and I don't mean the material ones!)

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

So very sad for Gretel. A close friend of mine lost her husband in similar circumstances, and I can understand how difficult life is for Gretel.