'Dance for Sadie Rance'
Following the latest ‘Dance for Sadie Rance’ event at the Union, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the fantastic fundraising work done in memory of Sadie, who was a valued member of the Student Union team during here time in Winchester.
Sadie’s parents Julia and Oliver explain how the money raised in her memory has gone to support those less unfortunate than ourselves.
To all you lovely friends of Winchester Student Union and Sadie.
We thought it would be good for you to see where your fundraising efforts have been used.
There is a group of young people that can't leave there homes due to their equipment and medical needs, that are keeping them alive. Once a month, the hospice arranges transport for them to go to their Saturday club. Sadie was invited to the club, but as you can imagine, it wasn't for her. For sure ordinarily, she would want to go and volunteer in different circumstances, but as her time was also short, spending it with Jason was more her thing.
Phillipa, who runs the club and was Sadie's cancer nurse, wanted to do something never done before. She had a dream that these youngsters could be doing what you are all doing....having real fun. She asked if Sadie would approve if the money raised in her name, would go to taking some of them to a festival...Womad ....Not just for a day, but for the whole long weekend.
After many months of planning, it happened last July.
They hired a Jumbulance- a specially designed coach run by volunteers, equipped to support passengers with advanced medical needs. They stayed in a disability tent sent up with all sorts of medical equipment and privacy for their care.
Most of the young adults, found themselves enjoying their first night out EVER and took complete advantage of it...they made their careers stay up till 4 in the morning most nights!
Here is an extract, from one of the attendees’ thank you letter. He was stabbed in the neck and lungs when he was 18. He has been left in a wheelchair unable to move or speak. His mother couldn't cope or look after him, so he has been living in a home for the last 7 years. I went to meet him at the Hospice just after Sadie passed, and was so pleased when I found out that he had gone to Womad , as through his speaking device he told me that he "just wants to see what it would be like having normal fun like his friends. "
Ben
“To be honest I don't even know where to start because the whole experience was just an amazing adventure. When it was first brought up a year ago I was shocked and hopeful at the same time only because it was not an experience I had thought of, or even imaged that young people with challenges would even be able to encounter.
Thinking about the weekend ahead I was so eager however I still had small amounts of doubt. The obstacles that could arise such as rain, mud, overcrowding and lastly the fact that we were going to sleeping in a tent, left me so anxious. I just wanted it to go smooth as possible and I wanted to have full confidence in the weekend ahead. I couldn't help but imagine that this would be life changing!
The founders and volunteers were truly amazing catering to all of our needs and making us feel right at home. The person centred care that was demonstrated within the weekend made it possible for everybody to explore their limits connected to the freedom of festival life.
My personal experience allowed me to broaden my horizon by allowing me to listen to different types of music, and the seeing the artists perform live, gave me a new love for live music. Being introduced to backgrounds and culture within the music, granted me the opportunity to let myself go and come out of my shell. I would say the most amazing experience on this trip was meeting artists up close and taking pictures capturing moments that will last forever.
It was definitely an experience I would love to see more of! This opportunity needs to be more vocally advertised for others to experience. Getting to know all we can achieve from this brilliant experience and change people's perception of thinking to a festival tent experience, really has been life changing...
Thank you so much for we know now that we have the ability too"
All monies donated to St Christophers Hospice in Sadies name, have been spent on fun things for the Young Adults and due to your generosity the Saturday club now runs every weekend! It's the only time most of them get out of their four walls.
Thank you all so much for your efforts. It really has contributed to changing the lives of those less fortunate.
Much love to you all and please always remember to live Sadie Style.
Julia and Oliver.
What Sadie meant to everyone,
“I’d just moved in to West Downs at the University of Winchester when I met Sadie. After being around her for no more than a minute, I was adamant that I was going to make her my BEST friend. As it turned out, I wasn’t the only person she had this effect on. Her positive outlook, her sense of humour, her beautiful smile, outrageously infectious laugh and what we now call her ‘sadiesms’ (she’d quite often got things a little confused) had everyone hooked. Not only did everyone want to be her friend, but she wanted to be theirs too, she had time for anyone who wanted it. She liked to call herself a ‘social butterfly’, no matter how many times we told her how lame that was! She was part of pretty much every sport club the University offered; tennis, athletics and of course, netball. She would always volunteer to help new students move in, being a shoulder to cry on for those who became home sick and tour guide for those who wanted to get out and about. By our third year Sades became the Welfare Officer for the Student Union. Her compassionate and caring nature meant that it came naturally to her to give advice and support to other students. By now we couldn’t walk the five minutes it took to get from our house to University without stopping and chatting to at least ten people on the way, and a night out with her was pretty much a night out with the entire University!
Sadie having had such a huge and positive impact on so many people throughout her life, has led to an enormous amount of awareness being raised around Ovarian Cancer. I know as well, that she would be so proud of all the fundraising people have done and continue to do, to raise money for Teens Unite and St Christopher’s Hospice, who both looked after her so well. I think it’s safe to say that everyone who had the absolute honour of meeting her will never forget her, or that delicate little laugh.” Hannah (Sadie’s Housemate)
Why is Dance for Sadie Rance such a special and important event?
“Dance for Sadie Rance is an amazing event that allows Sadie's nearest and dearest to celebrate her life in true Sadie style, every year in a place that she loved! Winchester SU. A night full of memories and a room full of love.” Kathryn Chesson
