Get Your Gloves On!on the 28th June 2013for people with scleroderma

Activity Pack

People with scleroderma often feel cold when most people don’t – in fact, theirfingers can literally turn blue with cold. Sometimes they need to wear a coat or put their gloves on – both inside and outside – when other people feel perfectly warm. This can look a bit silly in the summer, when everyone else is wearing t-shirts andsandals, so show you understand, raise some money and have some fun at the same time by wearing your gloves – whatever you are doing - on Friday 28 June!

Decide what you are going to do The simplest thing to do is to wear gloves on the day and

contribute some money. There are lots of other things you could do such as having a fancy dress gloves competition or having a glove

challenge! More ideas are included in this pack.

Let other people know and have some fun! The more people that know the better, so that we can raise awareness of this life long disability, as well as raise as much money as possible. Enjoy the day with friends, family and colleagues – connect with other fun-loving glove wearers and share your photos through Facebook and Twitter.

Make your donation Once you’ve collected your money, send it in through one of the methods explained in this pack.

Get your gloves on to support children and adults with scleroderma

What is scleroderma? Scleroderma can affect anyone of any age, can cause physicaldisability and it can be life threatening. The skin, joints, tendons, and internal organs can all be affected. Scleroderma affects the body’s connective tissues and is an autoimmune condition, which means that the body is being attacked by its own immune system.For more information visit: www.sclerodermasociety.org.uk

Take part!

Just £5 will help people with scleroderma Whether you wear your gloves for just an hour or the whole day, on the way to school or popping out to the post-box, thank you for showing your support for people with scleroderma. Take part and donate £5 to the Scleroderma Society to help us carry on supporting children and adults with scleroderma throughout the UK and funding research to find a cure.

Raise some moneyAsk your friends and families to make a donation as you wear your fanciest gloves, wear as many gloves as possible at once or wear your gloves for as long as possible.

You can use our special Get Your Gloves On! collection box or use the Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving web sites.

Lunch in your Gloves!

Ever tried a burger in boxing gloves, sushi in evening gloves? We are asking people to try and eat their lunch wearing gloves - the stranger the better. Why not eat lunch at your desk wearing gloves and ask people to donate in our special “Get Your Gloves On!” collecting boxes? How about getting your friends ‘round to lunch in their gloves or pop down the pub in your Marigolds.

This is a great way of raising awareness and money and you canupload your pictures to our website and Facebook page. We will be running a competition for the most unusual glove and foodcombination.

Wear any sort of gloves you like

lgardening gloves lfootball gloves levening gloves lwoolly gloves ldriving gloves lgolfing gloves lwashing-up gloves

Wear your gloves anywhere you like

lon the way to school or work lout shopping ldown the publin the café or canteen lat the gym lwatching TV

At school, college or university Persuade your teachers and other students to wear gloves at lunchtime or during breaks.

At work Get everyone to turn up in gloves and take a group photo. Or ask your colleagues to bring their gloves in to work and run a competition to guess who different gloves belong to.

Ask your employer if they will match what you raise Some companies will match what you raise, doubling your contribution. Ask your employer if they will support you in this way.

Need some help? If you are organising an event we can support you. We also have free materials such stickers, information bookmarks, collecting boxes and gift aid envelopes Please email or telephone us to let us know what you are planning and how we can help. Email: info@sclerodermasociety.co.uk : Telephone: 020 7000 1925

Publicise your event Let your local paper and radio stations know what you are doing, especially if you might have some good photos the paper can use. Make sure you tell them at least a week in advance so that they can spread the word and get more peopleinvolved on the day. There is a press release on our web site you can download and tailor to your own use if you like.

Facebook and Twitter Let us know what you are doing and use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to publicise your fundraising. Invite people to join the Scleroderma Society’s Get Your Gloves On pages on Facebook and Twitter. We’d love to hear about your plans and to share your photos.

facebook.com/sclerodermauk @sclerodermauk#sclerodermauk #GYGO2013

Set up an online fundraising page It’s quick and easy to do through the Virgin Money Giving or Just Giving web sites. You can keep track of how much money you are raising, it’s a good way to ask friends and family near and far to support you and there are lots of ideas to help you if you decide to organise an event.

Online You can make a donation through our web site sclerodermasociety.org.ukOr through our pages at Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving.www.justgiving.com/sclerodermasociety or go to Virgin Money Giving and search Scleroderma Society.

By post You can donate by sending a cheque made out to “The Scleroderma Society” to The Secretary, The Scleroderma Society, Bride House, 18-20 Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EE.Please include your name and address so we can write to thank you.

By text message Through Vodaphone’s JustTextGiving service. Text GLOV35 to 70070 plus the amount you would like to give.

Your fundraising

How your fundraising helps us Any amount you can raise will mean we can make a direct difference to the lives of children and adults with scleroderma. Your fundraising would help us maintain our current support as well as develop some much needed new services. •£5 covers the cost of an average call to our Helpline •£10 would pay for paraffin wax bath equipment, to relieve joint pain in the hands •£50 would pay for a year’s supply of hand warmers to someone in need •£100 would pay for one year’s supply of scleroderma information to a local hospital •£200 helps us run our free Helpline for a week •£500 provides a full day’s workshop for 30 people newly diagnosed with scleroderma, helping them cope with their condition •£1,500 would fund a small research project

How the Scleroderma Society helps Being diagnosed with scleroderma can be a frightening time, whatever age you are. The Scleroderma Society is there to help with friendly, knowledgeable and expert advice – not just at the time of diagnosis, but as long as is needed.

Scleroderma is a life long condition. There is no cure but with the right treatment and support, the effects of the condition can be minimised and both children and adults can lead fulfilling lives.

We provide support by: •running a free telephone Helpline 12 hours a day, seven days a week •supporting a UK wide network of local groups •giving medical research grants •producing and providing free information leaflets, as well as a regular newsletter •managing online discussion and advice forums through our web site •providing emergency financial assistance to members

Our funding comes completely from our small membership subscriptions andcharitable donations – we do not receive any government or NHS funding – so your help is essential.

Thank you for your support.

Sue’s Storyis in her early 50’s and lives with her husband and son in Lin-colnshire. She was diagnosed with scleroderma in 2008. Sue says:

“I felt as if I was banging my head on a brick wall and that I was going mad because no-one seemed to take my symptoms seriously, so t was a great relief to finally get the diagnosis. I’d had various symptoms for over five years including extreme fatigue both mentally and physically, lots of pains throughout my body and frequent chest infections.

My condition has got worse over the last four years and I’ve had to give up my job which I really miss. The cold is physically painful for me and I wear gloves and a hat when my family are wearing shorts and t-shirts. People sometimes give me funny looks but I’ve learnt to ignore them. Sometimes I have to ask people on the till in shops to take my money as my hands become very numb, even with gloves.

I have to take at least 16 tablets a day and inject myself with one particular medicine every week. I also have to have my lungs and heart monitored on a regular basis at the hospital. Without the support of my family, I don’t think I could have coped. I’m also very grateful for all the help and support the Scleroderma Society have given me – it makes such a difference being able to talk to someone with the condition because they really understand the problems you have to face every day. “

I would like to get involved withGet Your Gloves On! in 2013

I am interested in helping raise funds

I want to Get my Gloves on at ____________________

I want to organise a Gloves Lunch

I would like to help raise awareness

I would like a GYGO! 2013 Collection box for home

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Email: Telephone No:

Please return to:The Scleroderma Society

Bride House18-20 Bride StreetLondon EC4Y 8EE

orFREEPOST SCLERODERMA

e: info@sclerodermasociety.org.ukt: 020 7000 1925

w: sclerodermasociety.org.ukCharity No. 286736