SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY
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| £114,825 | £32,571 | £16,233 | £2,032 |
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| £1,159 | £989 | £702 | £601 |
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| £576 | £310 | £307 | £442 |
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In early 2023, I was nominated for one of the 500 Coronation Champions that the King & Queen were proposing and in April, I was confirmed to be one of the 500 selected and invited to a Royal Garden Party on the 9th May. You can read all about it via the link above. |
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In January 2023 I received confirmation that I had been nominated in Macmillan Cancer Support's Thanks to You Awards 2023. I was subsequently named as one of the 9 finalists in the Outstanding Supporter section and a grand awards ceremony was held in Birmingham on 1st June 2023. Sadly I was not the winner as an amazing group of ladies from Northern Ireland secured the win. |
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Amazing letter received from Macmillan Cancer Support's out-going Chief Executive, Lynda Thomas, in September 2022, click to enlarge. Geoff has worked tirelessly for a number of charities since 2009, primarily Macmillan Cancer Support, through the Driftwood Fundraising Group, which he chairs. His work culminated in an invitation to a Macmillan Cancer Support reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by The King, then HRH The Prince of Wales, in January 2018. Click image for more details.Emma Tingley, Head of Partnerships for London & South East Regions of the charity attended a tea party at Driftwood for the 2022 trail garden owners and said "It was fantastic to meet you both and hear about the incredible work you've done to support Macmillan over so many years, not only through your own personal efforts, but by being such an incredible catalyst in your community and beyond. I only wish I'd met you years ago! I've never heard of anyone who's baked 9000 portions of cake for an open garden before, utterly bonkers, but clearly a winning recipe for such a successful decade of opening your garden and creating a garden trail with others, for so many people to enjoy. A huge thank you for allowing Macmillan to be the beneficiary of that success. The over £100,000 that you've raised will have made a real difference to people with cancer in Sussex." |
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| Monies also raised for the charities nominated by the Mayor Of Seaford each year through an annual garden trail from 2012 to 2019 and for the National Garden Scheme, (both as a garden owner and volunteering in a variety of key roles for the charity at County and National levels). All these activities have been focused around his own award winning garden Driftwood. |  |
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On 5th June 2018 he was invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Click image for more details. Geoff opted to take his 91 year old mother, Barbara! His name had been put forward for the charity work he has done in Seaford. In May 2018 he was also awarded the Don Mabey Award by the Mayor of Seaford for "Exceptional Services to the town of Seaford." Below is a record of the monies raised to date for the different charities. |  |
Over the 12 years we have been raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, the total has now almost reached £110,000.
Rita King from Brighton wrote after visiting Driftwood in 2019, Thank you so much. We enjoyed every moment....couldn't imagine a year without a visit to your awesome garden and we would certainly miss seeing you. You have become a part of so many people's lives giving so much happiness. You are a very special person.
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In In June 2023 I received my 10 year Volunteer badge for the National Garden Scheme. |
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In early 2023, I learnt that I had been nominated in the Coronation Champions 2023". I was confirmed as a champion in April and attended a Royal Garden party on 9th May. |
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In January 2023, I learnt that I had been nominated in Macmillan Cancer Support's "The Thanks to You Awards 2023". |
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In September 2022, I received a wonderful letter from Macmillan's outgoing CEO acknowledging the amazing contribution I had made to the charity. Click to enlarge. |
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In May 2021, Macmillan Cancer Support sent a card thanking me for the World Naked Gardening Day fundraiser I did raising over £800. |
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In June 2020, Macmillan Cancer Support sent a card during Volunteers Week, acknowledging my efforts in volunteering with them. |
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In March 2020, the Chairman of the National Garden Scheme presented me with a certificate for " my exceptional contribution as a volunteer". The letter to go with it can be viewed here. |
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In December 2018 I received a certificate for my nomination in both the fundraiser and volunteer of the year catergories for the BBC Community Heroes Awards. |
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2018 started in incredible style, with a formal invitation to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on the 5th June, for services to the local community. Click Palace logo for more details. |
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On 22nd May 2018 I was awarded the Don Mabey Award for "exceptional services to the Town of Seaford" by the Mayor, Cllr Linda Wallraven. |
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2017 ended well with a formal invitation to Buckingham Palace, to a reception hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales for Macmillan Cancer Support as a thank you, with Macmillan's saying; "Geoff had made a significant difference to the charity, and in turn to those affected by cancer." Click the logo for more details. |
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Late in 2017, Geoff was nominated and subsequently became a finalist in the Argus Community Stars Awards. Click logo for more details. |
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Geoff was nominated in the 2017 BBC Sussex & Surrey Community Heroes Awards for Fundraiser of the Year and received a certificate, click logo to view it. |
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Geoff was nominated in the 2016 BBC Sussex & Surrey Community Heroes Awards for Fundraiser of the Year and received a certificate, click logo to view it. |
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Geoff was nominated in the 2016 More Radio Awards for Fundraiser of the Year, he subsequently became a finalist and won the title, click trophy to view all the details. |
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52 local community volunteers were invited to celebrate the work of people who volunteer their services for the good of the community at the 2016 Unsung Heroes Awards. Geoff was invited for the fundraising he does for Macmillan Cancer Support, through Driftwood Fundraising Group. Click image to see certificate. |
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In April 2015 Geoff was presented with a special award by the Mayor of Seaford, Cllr. Mark Brown for his charity fundraising in the town. Click image to see award. |
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Geoff was nominated in the 2013 BBC Sussex & Surrey Community Heroes Awards for Fundraiser of the Year, subsequently became a finalist and was invited to the glittering awards ceremony. He was not the ultimate winner but you can see the certificate by clicking the logo. |
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In April 2012, Geoff was presented with a special award by the Mayor of Seaford, Cllr. Linda Wallraven for his charity fundraising in the town. Click image to see award. |
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Have you ever considered opening your garden to raise money for charity? Check out my 2 blogs on the subject, posted on Richard Jackson's Garden website in March 2016 and January 2017 .
2024 Fundraising
Once again we will be raising money for 2 charities in 2024. Click their logo to take you to the web page promoting the charity!
2023 Fundraising
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Most of our visitor money went to Macmillan Cancer Support for whom we raised £5081.94 and the remainder, almost £801, for the National Garden Scheme. Total fundraising this year was an amazing £5882.94. Visitors from Maryland USA, on the left and a WI group on the right. |
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2022 Fundraising
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This year I organised the very last Macmillan Coastal Garden trail and was very fortunate to have Christine Walkden on hand to celebrate raising over £100,000 for the charity over the previous 10 years. We also had private visits from visitors from the National Garden Scheme and raised almost £700 for the scheme.Total fundraising this year was an amazing £12,231. |
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2021 Fundraising
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In April 2022, we received confirmation of the total monies raised for Macmillan in 2021. See certificate on the right! |
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I decided to try and raise money for Macmillan through World Naked Gardening Day on 1st May. I posted images on social media, Macmillan did too. Then, on 3rd May it appeared in the Argus newspaper and online. Within a few hours I'd raised over £800. |
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2020 Fundraising
With the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, all charity events we had planned for 2020 were cancelled. We endeavoured to raise money by creating virtual tours of gardens and through all sources, Just Giving, receipt of cheques, and birthday fundraiser on Facebook, over £4,000 was raised.
In addition to those above, Beryl Brown baked and sold Christmas cakes and donated a large sum to our fundraising.
Chief Executive of Macmillan, Lynda Thomas recorded this message of support for the cancellation of the trail.
There was no scheduled Mayor's garden Trail for 2020, but had there been, the pandeminc would have cancelled it. Here's a short video of Geoff recounting the successes of the event from 2011 to 2019.
2019 Fundraising
Our openings for the National Garden Scheme were reduced from 4 to 2 as well, meaning the garden only opened on 5 public days instead of 14. We were open for private visits.
We worked with St Peter & St James's Hospice in 2019 by having 2 group visits to the garden.
On 22nd August we presented the monies raised for Macmillan to them on the day the grand rafle in the garden. £13708 was handed over, a record year.
2018 Fundraising
2018 was our best fundraising year ever, but an incredibly hectic one with many complications.
In September 2018 local papers published the success of 2018 with almost £20,000 raised in one year for charity bringing the grand total to over £114,000.
At the end of the final day of the Artwave Festival on 2nd September, Tom Lay from Macmillan accepted a cheque for £12515 being the monies raised for Macmillan Cancer Support from Driftwood private visits, grand artist raffle, Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail and visitor donations.
On 13th July 2018 visitors, Janice and Mario Dennington handed over the £1 that took our fundraising over £100000.
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On 22nd May I was invited to the Seaford Forum and was truly amazed to be awarded with the Don Mabey trophy for "Exceptional services to the Town of Seaford" |
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2017 Fundraising
A wonderful double-paged feature appeared in the Argus on 28th October 2017 talking about the £100,000 fundraising target that will be hit in 2018. A great quote from Rob Moon at Macmillan at the end of the piece.
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On 19th October 2017, trail organiser, Geoff Stonebanks, was invited to attend the Macmillan Executive Team Meeting in the Horizon Centre, Brighton. The Trustees and Board met with groups of volunteers and staff at the centre and heard direct from Geoff about his fundraising work with the charity, both the trail and other events in his own garden Driftwood. He can be seen here with Chief Executive of Macmillan, Lynda Thomas prior to the meeting. |
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After being told how much we had raised in 2017, Joelle Leader from Macmillan said "It was a real pleasure to meet some of you yesterday and receive the cheque (or in this case the numbers!). As I said, when I came to open the trail on the first weekend this year, I thought to raise the same £8000 that you did in 2016 would be amazing but to raise that and another £5000 on top is just unbelievable. Macmillan wants to be there for everyone going through cancer and this will really make a difference to being able to do that at the Horizon Centre. Thank you so much again to Geoff and to absolutely everyone for this incredible achievement. Looking forward to next year!" Christine Walkden, our Patron, wrote and thanked us for our work too! In September 2017, Julia Crowe, a visitor to the garden wrote, "Congratulations. That is a staggering amount and the charities will surely appreciate all the work that you and your volunteers do. These charities rely on people, like all of you, to be able to survive and the people who need to use them would be lost without them. My sister is recovering from breast cancer and really appreciated the support given to her by Macmillan. My visit to your garden in summer with my friend Caroline remains one of my highlights. It was a special day and your kindness will always be remembered. You have achieved so much in your garden and it gives you and many others such pleasure. In August, Sarah Coxhill, Senior Fundraising Manager for Macmillan sent the following e mail: "Geoff, I know you're being looked after by Tom and other members of the team but as I am back from my London post I couldn't miss the opportunity to say a huge congratulations on what is already set to be a record year. The coverage alone is priceless. Thanks so much for the tireless work and commitment you show year on year, it's such a good example to the local and even national community." On the 29th & 30th July we opened as part of the 6th annual Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail, which I single-handedly organise, and raised a staggering £9000. |
Joelle Leader, Director of Volunteering at Macmillan Cancer Support, said at the opening, "Thank you very much for the invite and I wanted to explain to you why your support is absolutely critical for Macmillan. In the UK we currently have 2.5 million people who are living with cancer and we know by 2040 that number will rise to 5.3 milllion. There is good news though, because in addition to that when my father had cancer in the 1970s the average life expectancy was 1 year and that life expectancy has now risen to 10 years. So we have more people living longer needing more support. When someone is diagnosed with cancer and maybe some of you will have experienced that, it can affect everything and turn a world upside down. So when a person needs someone to turn to we want to be there for them from diagnosis through to treatment and recovery. That is why we are so grateful for your support and why the Macmillan Horizon Centre is helping us to be there for people living with cancer. Being a Brighton resident myself I have seen the Centre literally being built from the ground to what it is now having opened in November 2016. In the first month alone of being open, December 2016 there were 1400 interactions with people living with cancer so it really is making a difference to so many people. Geoff Stonebanks has told me about all the incredible fundraising activities that he and other wonderful volunteers have been doing including this Driftwood Open Garden which in itself for just a weekend is likely to raise in the region of £9000. Altogether the total for last 5 years that went to the Horizon Centre from Geoff and local volunteers fundraising was £42,000 which is quite phenomenal. Last week in London we had a take over day where all the staff take to the streets to raise money and I shook a bucket at Victoria station for about 3 hours and I think only raised about £100 so I know how hard it is and that sort of money raised in is incredible So I want to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to Geoff for his relentless fundraising and commitment to Macmillan in order to make this all happen and to everyone else too whatever you do whether it is opening your garden, selling raffle tickets or making the tea because it is really making a difference to people who are living with cancer. Thank you so much again."
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On 12th August we took part in the inaugural Gardens And Health week run by the National Garden Scheme. We invited 30 carers from the Association of Carers to visit the garden for complimentary tea and cake. Click to see video. |
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Our 4 openings for the National Garden Scheme to date have raised over £2872 for the charity this year! There have been many private visits to the garden through it's newly gained status, having been awarded a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. All proceeds from these visits go to Macmillan Cancer Support. |
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On the 11th June we opened for the first time in 2017 for the Mayor's trail. Cllr Linda Wallraven was on hand along with local MP, Maria Caulfield, to officially open the trail which raised over £2000 for the Mayor's charity, Seaford Lifeguards. On the 1st July we opened again for Family Support Work but numbers were low and we only raised just over £300. |
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2016 Fundraising
This "Opinion" piece I was asked to write for The Argus on fundraising appeared in the paper on the 24th October 2016.
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On 25th November 2016 I was invited to the More Radio Awards ceremony at the All Saints Chapel in Eastbourne. I had been nominated, shortlisted and actually won their Fundraiser of the Year Award which was quite incredible. Then, on 2nd December, it made the front page of Seaford Herald newspaper too! Equally amazed to receive a certificate from BBC Sussex in recognition of my nomination in the "Fundraising" category of their 2016 Community Heroes Awards too! |
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The award had been generously sponsored by Room 2 Let. You can see the short video More Radio filmed and showed at the ceremony on the right. |
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On 28th September 2016, we were invited to the Macmillan Horizon Centre, to have a preview of the new building. It was with complete surprise we discovered that Driftwood Fundraising Group was listed on the roll call of supporters and donors in the main reception area. Sussex Committees had raised a staggering £1.1 million towards the building of the centre and Driftwood Fundraising Group had contributed over £41000. |
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Before moving on to a new role, Tom Carter, Sussex Fundraising Manager said: "What a pleasure it has been to attend the trail over recent years and to thank you for the skill you show both in organising the event and raising fantastic awareness of Macmillan and the Horizon Centre."
Above supporters of the Driftwood Fundraising Group at a preview event at The Horizon Centre in September 2016, from left to right, Helen Roberts, Liz Holland, Mark Glassman,
Geoff Stonebanks (Chair of group) Celia Hughes, Diane Marquess and Linda Wallraven.
On 4th September we presented Macmillan with a cheque for £8000, bringing the total raised for them since 2012 to an amazing £40000.
Sarah Coxhill, Sussex Fundraising Manager, said A huge thanks from Macmillan and in particular the Sussex Team. Your patience, continued hard work and enthusiasm has resulted in another huge donation towards the centre. A huge contribution to Macmillan over all, very much appreciated.
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On the 2nd August 2016, the Argus printed a lovely full page article in the paper about my charity fundraising over the years. See copy on the right and click to read larger version. It also appeared online too. None of this would have been achieved without the considerable help, on all open garden days, of a willing band of volunteers who have steadfastly supported my fundraising efforts. Over the years they have been, Mark Glassman, Linda Wallraven, Celia Hughes, Diane Marquess, Helen Roberts, Richard Walsh, Liz Holland, Amanda Haines, Rosa Botterill, Michele Findlay, Clare Mayers and my mother, Barbara Stonebanks. We received a great letter from Macmillan about this years fundraising too, which can be read here. |
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On the 23rd July we opened for the very first time for local Sussex charity, Family Support Work and had 134 visitors raising £657 for the charity. Despite the sea mist which blew in as we opened it remained warm and many enjoyed tea and cakes on the beach garden. |
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On the 9th July, Maria Caulfield, MP, Cllr Lindsay Freeman, Mayor of Seaford, Tom Carter, Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, Carol Campbell, Deputy Mayor of Seaford and Seaford young Mayor all attended the opening of the Macmillan garden Trail at Driftwood. |
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After the event, Sarah Coxhill, Senior Sussex Fundraising Manager for Sussex said, We think this is a fantastic result, and what incredible press coverage, proving again that not only the money raised but a large proportion of awareness of Macmillan and specifically the Horizon Centre is at the forefront of Sussex media because of you. A huge thanks on behalf of Macmillan for your continued support, enthusiasm, hard work and commitment. We understand the amount of drive that goes into getting this together and delivering such an outstanding weekend for all the visitors. The weather is always so hard to predict but despite that it didnt dampen spirits. A huge congratulations to you all and enormous thanks. On seeing all the coverage in the local press of the Macmillan Trail, Tom Carter, Area Fundraising Manager, said. "I know you were a little disappointed with how the weather hampered this years financial total, but the amount of excellent press you have secured is worth its weight in gold!" |
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On the 5th June, Maria Caulfield, MP, Cllr Lindsay Freeman, Mayor of Seaford and other dignitaries attended the opening of the 5th annual Mayor's Open Garden Trail at Driftwood. We've rasied over £10000 for the Mayor's charities over the years, with £2500 being raised on this event. |
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In my capacity of Chairman of Driftwood Fundraising Group, I was one of 52 local community volunteers invited to celebrate the work of people who volunteer their services for the good of the community at the 2016 Unsung Heroes Awards held at Newhaven Fort on the 16th April. This year, the event included representatives from the charities and voluntary organisations working locally that have been nominated to Ruth O'Keefe MBE, Chair of the District Council, as part of her theme for the civic year 2015/2016 Charities and Voluntary Organisations of the Lewes District as well as individual Unsung Heroes nominated by her Lewes District Councillors. We were invited for the work we do for Macmillan Cancer Support and presented with a cheque for £100. |
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2015 Fundraising
On seeing a photo of the cheque for Macmillan on Facebook, local Seaford Town Councillor, Carol Campbell wrote, "AMAZING WORK!!!!! You created magic and you just deserve the fruits (or flowers) of your labour of love! Your garden is inspiring and what you are doing for charity certainly is incredible! Well done dear Geoff Stonebanks!!!! Pride of Seaford!!!! Xx"
We raised a total of £14243 in the summer of 2015 for all charities.
There was in incredible centrefold feature in the Argus on the 5th October 2015 with a piece about my charity fundraising too.
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On 29th September 2015, Geoff Stonebanks met up with Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, Lynda Thomas on the site of the new Macmillan Horizon Centre in Brighton. Lynda was interested to hear about the development of the trail and Geoff's aspirations for 2016. |
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The Artwave Festival took place from 22nd August and 6th September and on the final day we presented Macmillan with £8000 which was the monies from the garden trail in July and Artwave raffle, donations and kitchen proceeds! Tom Carter who accepted the cheque for Macmillan said “I was delighted to visit the beautiful Driftwood garden again on Sunday. This remarkable donation is a credit to the wonderful enthusiasm and commitment of Geoff and all the garden owners who participated in the trail. Without them Macmillan simply could not be there with medical, financial, practical and emotional support for the 25 people newly diagnosed with cancer in Sussex every day.”
I was e mailed by a lady during the festival who said "Wow! You have moved me to tears. Congratulations on your fantastic effort raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. As a person 'living with cancer' myself, I am so grateful to you for this. Macmillan nurses are so fabulous, and have helped other members of our family cope during times of crisis and loss."
Christine Walkden tweeted her good wishes after the presntation too!@driftwoodbysea @MacmillanTrail @MacmillanSussex Well done Geoff and all who help you.
— Christine Walkden (@ChristineWalkd) September 6, 2015@MacmillanTrail @ChristineWalkd Thank you so much Geoff, Christine and all who worked so hard and generously donated #NotAlone
— Macmillan in Sussex (@MacmillanSussex) September 6, 2015
Tom Carter, Sussex Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support said "What an incredible achievement! Thank you to all for the huge effort and passion you have put into your wonderful gardens and the very significant difference it will make to the lives of local people affected by cancer.
Nice comment from Macmillan on twitter on the 28th July on announcing £6089 had been raised from the Macmillan garden Trail!@driftwoodbysea @MacmillanTrail Amazing news! Huge contribution to @macmillancancer and @Mac_Horizon for which we are very grateful #legend
— Macmillan in Sussex (@MacmillanSussex) July 28, 2015
A great piece about my charity work also appeared in national gardening magazine Garden News on 4th July.
A lovely article appeared in the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine on 27th June and also Mail Online about my fundraising activities for charity, seen here as tweeted by the journalist herselfMy piece on @driftwoodbysea in today's DM (London edition only, alas) pic.twitter.com/bsKzlSpLli
— Constance CraigSmith (@Concraigsmith) June 27, 2015 |
On the 28th April I was invited to a ceremony in the new Golf Club in Seaford by the Mayor! I was very pleased indeed to be awarded this lovely glass piece in recognition of the £47000 I had raised for charity fundraising through opening the garden and organising the Mayors Open Garden Trail! |
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2014 Fundraising
In December 2014, Sarah Coxhill, Fundraising Manager in Sussex for Macmillan wrote, "For another year Geoff, you’ve done Macmillan, yourself and those affected with cancer proud. I’ve said it before but we do so appreciate the monies raised and profile building you do for us quietly and independently, it’s an awesome example of true giving. Thank you. A very Merry Christmas to you! Look forward to seeing you in 2015 for what looks like it could be even a bigger year for you than 2014! Please do thank, on our behalf, the volunteers and garden owners who offer support and fundraising through your event for us, its truly remarkable. Committees across Sussex this year have produced; garden trails, golf days, catering at wakes, cinemas, bridge teas, store/street collections, craft fairs, coffee mornings, rock n roll nights, steam rally’s, farmers markets, memorial events to name but a few, has resulted in a staggering £529,308 being banked so far, contributing towards the £1.9 million that has been raised to date in Sussex in 2014. We really couldn’t achieve this kind of result without you, so from all of us thank you so so much."
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Macmillan Cancer Support featured Geoff Stonebanks as an "Amazing Fundraiser" on page 15 in their national magazine, Mac News's winter edition in December 2014, which you can see here! |
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A great article appeared in Seaford Herald on the 14th November about the monies raised for the new centre in Brighton. The most significant contribution to our charity efforts in 2015 will come through the incredible support of TV gardener, Christine Walkden! As patron of the garden trail I organise for Macmillan |
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2014 was our most successful charity fundraising year, we raised an amazing £16000 for all charities. The open garden season culminated with us being able to present Macmillan with a whopping cheque for £10000. Below you can see the presentation to Rob Moon on the 7th September.
Macmillan Cancer Support issued a Press Release on the 12th November and Driftwood's efforts are featured on page 2, check it out here .
Marliyn Mountford posted on facebook, on seeing the image above, "Wow,I have been commenting, congratulating all that you and your supporters have achieved. It really is a wonderful story of committment and dedication to a cause. Other charities would be so envious to have supporters like you! So hope I can come next year and be part of something so special, even if only in a very small way! Good luck and congratulations!"
Prior to visiting on 7th September, Rob Moon, Macmillan's Regional Fundraising Manager for Sussex said "it sounds like you’re having a fantastic summer and breaking all records! I’ve tried to keep up on twitter but you’re so hot on there that I’m sure I’ve missed a few tweets, although what I’ve caught has been brilliant – it’s such a great way of getting the message out there. Add in all the other press you manage to secure, plus the feature on Latest TV and you really are a true superstar fundraiser, I can’t thank you enough for everything you do. Please also pass on my gratitude to all the garden owners, artists and all the other people who help make this such a success. Ten thousand pounds takes us another big step towards opening The Sussex Macmillan Cancer Support Centre and will make a huge difference to people across Sussex affected by cancer. Again, thank you and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Let the sun shine!"
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On the 27th July, a radio presenter from the World Service's Click programme, Jonathan Kent, came and spoke to me about the relationship between social media and fundraising. You can hear the interview on his blog here . |
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Here you can see the total of visitors and monies rasied for charity 2009 to 2014! |
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Work commenced on building the new cancer centre in Brighton on the 24th February 2014. The garden has raised over £23000 which has gone directly to this project! They say " We are well on track with fundraising, with the generous support of the local community, funds in hand for the Sussex Macmillan Cancer Centre already stand at over £2m. But they need your help now to raise over £1m"
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The Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail in 2014 raised an amazing £7500 for the new cancer centre. It will take place again in 2015. Seen here the opening ceremony at Driftwood. |
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After the 2014 trail, Sarah Coxhill, Macmillan's Fundraising Manager in Sussex said;" I Just wanted to say how bowled over I was at the extent of the growth of the event, the following, the coverage, the quality and the enthusiasm. I hope you’re feeling proud as punch with yourself and all that you’ve achieved. I know you don’t need the promotion but just for your information, Rob Moon (Area Fundraising Manager) has specifically asked for a write up about you and your initiative to be shared nationally. We are also hoping for a piece in the Mac News nationally too. As you know it’s not just the funds you raise but the enormous awareness you raise around the build and which we are in need of. As I’ve often said the true impact of everything you’ve done and are doing can’t be measured but please know it makes an outstanding contribution to what we’re trying to do in Sussex." | ||
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Received in March 2014 this great certificate to acknowledge the £7120 raised in 2023 for Macmillan, along with the covering letter! |
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Many thanks indeed to Taylors of Harrogate and Sarah Wells, their Community Support Officer in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as they have been extremely generous in donating all the Yorkshire Tea we served in the garden thereby increasing our charity donations. |
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2013 Fundraising
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In December 2013, I became a finalist in the BBC Sussex Community Heroes Awards for fundraising efforts, after raising nearly £32000 for various charities in the last 4 years. Apparently I had received more nominations from their listeners than for any other award! Absolutely amazing! |
Thank you so much to those who nominated me! Thanks as well to Macmillan's Director of Regional Fundraising, Claire Singlehurst, for the wonderful letter of thanks, shown below, thanking me for my efforts.
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The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday December 11th where this certificate was presented. In the run up to the ceremony I was interviewed 3 times on BBC Sussex with Allison Ferns on the 11th December here . One with Neil Pringle on the BBC Sussex Breakfast Show on Wednesday 4th December, here and one with Joe Talbot, on Dig It, here, which was broadcast on Sunday 17th November. |
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In 2014, in addition to the charities shown above, we will be raising money for those charities appointed by the incoming Mayor of Seaford for 2014. Cllr. Anthony White's charities for 2013 were Waifs & Strays Dog Rescue Centre and Seaford Downs Syndrome and Special Needs Support Group. On taking office on 9th May he said of Driftwood, "Thank you so much for your support for the mayor and charities both past and ongoing, Seaford is proud of its associations and voluntary groups and Driftwood Garden is extremely highly regarded for the efforts that it consistently offers."
After their visit to the garden during Artwave, Pete & Hilary Bagguley wrote to say, "Sincere congratulations too on the staggering amount of your fundraising. We have held various fundraising events over the years including just one open garden & that was definitely the most labour-intensive event we have ever done! So after the huge labour of love you have spent creating it, we can only imagine the hours you spend maintaining such a truly beautiful, exciting & interesting garden. To be raising so much money for good causes in the process is a phenomenal effort. WELL DONE!"
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On the last day of the Artwave Festival, Rob Moon, Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan, came to the garden to be presented with a cheque for £8900, you can see me here making the presentaion! Rob said ‘Macmillan wants to make sure that no one in Sussex faces cancer alone and we can only do so through the generous support of the public. I want to thank Geoff and everyone involved with the Driftwood Fundraising Group for their fantastic support, the money raised will go towards The Sussex Macmillan Cancer Support Centre Appeal’. |
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Great thank you letter received from Macmillan's Director of Regional Fundraising following the garden trail. Whilst I organised and facilitated the event it would not have been possible without the garden owners, sponsors and Christine Walkden & Jack Dunckley who all made the event a fantastic success! Thanks to all! |
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In the run up to the National Gardens Scheme Festival weekend in June 2013, I supported Macmillan at their Head Office in Vauxhall by devising and running a "lunch & do" session for them about the relationship between the NGS and Macmillan. It involved some hands on gardening and a web chat session. Ellie Walker (Account Manager, Corporate Partnerships Department) said "Thanks for making our first NGS festival celebrations so special at Macmillan. Your contribution was the highlight of our week! We appreciate the time you gave us and the enthusiasm you put in to every task! Good luck with the summer season and all your fundraisng!" |
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On hearing how much was raised on the trail in 2013, Pat Latham, the garden owner from Cranborn Avenue in Eastbourne said, "Wow - really well done Geoff and everyone - it has been a pleasure to take part this year. We had a great time at Cranborn Avenue and the weather was just perfect. Your organisation and commitment are amazing Geoff - and what a brilliant amount raised. Thank you and well done."
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The Macmillan Coastal Trail, which began in 2012, has gone from strength to strength and in 2013 Christine Walkden kindly agreed to become the patron and Jack Dunckley, hot from Chelsea 2013, agreed to officially open the event. |
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In March 2013 we received this certificate from Macmillan. I formed the Driftwood Fundraising Group a year ago and this acknowledges the £3815 raised last year through donations and raffles in the garden and the proceeds from the garden trail I organised. Additionally I had raised more prior to forming the group, so a grand total of £6100 since August 2010. Thank you so much to all our visitors for their generosity |
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2012 Fundraising
Gill Weaver, who opened her garden for both the Mayor's event and Macmillan in 2012 said, "I have huge admiration for the way you have approached the whole fund-raising enterprise and your pure professionalism over the whole venture. You deserve all the accolades, editorials, interest - and more." Following the 1st Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail I organised in August 2012, where we raised £2600, one of the garden owners, Julie Basham said, "You are a diamond Geoff, this was so well organised, you put in a great deal of work. If it wasn't for people like you these charities wouldn't exist. Good on you, I feel priveleged to be a part of it."
After the Mayor's Open Garden Trail in July 2012, Cllr. Linda Wallraven, Mayor of Seaford, said "On behalf of the charities that you (Geoff) have supported through your marvellous efforts, thank you once again. Your community spirit and generosity is a rare and wonderful thing and a true inspiration to others."
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Many thanks to the Mayor of Seaford, Cllr. Linda Wallraven, for putting me forward for a Community Service Award in 2012, in recognition of monies raised for charity by opening the garden over the last 3 years and in particular organising the Mayor's Open Garden Trail for Seaford which took place on Sunday 8th July 2012. |
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2011 Fundraising
After visiting Driftwood garden during the Artwave Festival in 2011, Sylvia Argyle said "Congratulations on another excellent Artwave and for organising the impressive collection for the new Cancer Centre. People leave Driftwood with such positive feelings about your work and that encourages them to give generously! So it is really a big thank you to you both."
All the money raised in the garden is by either charging entry or by asking for donations if visitors have enjoyed their visit. Additionally, we sell home made sweet and savoury cup cakes, served with teas and coffees on trays with vintage china, in the garden. All proceeds from these sales go to the charities we sponsor on that day.
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ARTWAVE 2011Pictured left is Macmillan's Rachel David, Fund Raising Manager for Sussex, receiving the cheque for monies raised and on the right, Liz Davis receiving her first prize in the raffle. |  |
In 2011 we raised money for The Cinnamon Trust, The National Gardens Scheme, Sussex Beacon, Seaford in Bloom, St Andrews Saxon Church in Bishopstone, Seaford Mayor's charity Waves (for which we raised £580) and Macmillan Cancer Support.
2010 Fundraising
In 2010 we raised money for Sussex Beacon, Macmillan, Seaford in Bloom and St Andrews Church.
2009 Fundraising
In 2009 for Martletts Hospice and Seaford In Bloom.