Hi Guys, WOW where do I even start! First off, I am so sorry it has taken me over a week to write up about the event, I could sit here and make up excuses but the truth is is that once the event was over I was absolutely exhausted! I totally miscalculated just how much of my time and energy I had put into both the lead up to and on the day of the event, that I was totally wiped out all last week once everything was done. Every time I thought I had enough energy to write a blog post or even post something on Facebook, I just couldn't. Not only that, I am STILL getting through the lovely messages you guys have sent me over the last few weeks, and last week I was just on cloud 9! Some of you have been on this journey with me for the last 2/ 3 years, and your continuous support is what gets me through the most difficult times so THANK YOU!! Those of you who were at the Ladies' Day Event in aid of Pieta house on Sunday 26th, thank you so so so much for not only coming but for your generosity! At the start of the day I told you all that my target for the day was to raise €1500 for Pieta House. This wasn't just a made up figure, in fact that is roughly how much it costs Pieta House to put someone through their system. Although I was determined to hit that figure, I was still doubtful as it is a lot of money. Despite how much my family love to throw parties (and let's face it, mam and dad are the king and queen of parties,) I really didn't have any idea how the event would go. I have never ever hosted an event like the Ladies' day before and to be totally honest at the start I really did not know what I was getting myself into, I hadn't a clue where to start or what was involved but as the months flew by and the day crept on top of me, things started coming together and to say the day was a success is a complete understatement! However, despite how much hard work myself and my family had put into it, I really did not know what to expect in relation to how much we would raise, but between tickets, donations, raffle tickets and the ' Guess how many jelly beans are in the jar?' game, we totally smashed the figure with the FINAL count being:€2336!! I know for some people, like big corporate groups, that may not sound like a lot (once again self doubt creeps in) but it is a heck of a lot of money, and the way I see it is that all of the money will go towards helping not one but nearly two people and could even save someone's life, which in my opinion is absolutely priceless!!! The day after the event, I'd say I had all of your hearts broke as every hour or so we had a different total raised however if there is one thing that I have learned through this whole process is that people can be so generous, even after the event money was donated!! So a huge thank you to those of you who went, those of you who bought raffle tickets and indeed those of you who donated both money and raffle prizes, without all of you who contributed in some way shape or form, raising that sort of money would not have been possible, so give yourselves a pat on the back!! Every single prize that was donated for the raffle was an absolute hit and we had so many prizes that we actually had more on the day that we weren't counting on, as I said above, people are so generous especially when it's for a good cause! For those of you who couldn't make the day or who haven't a clue what I am on about, it was a day full of hair, beauty, music, incredible speakers, afternoon tea! Unfortunately, I was running around like a headless chicken and so were my family so I didn't get as many pictures at the start of the day as I would have liked, but the room was completely transformed and looked incredible, the fact that Boomers started putting their Christmas decorations up totally added to it. I can't take any credit for the room, as I spent the morning directing people fro a stool while getting my make up done!!It was the work of my mam, dad, Katie, Mark and a few helpers! Each table had a frame with a cute quote, a jar full of sweets and a fabulous candle from Celtic Mist Candles! The frames and jars were the work of my fabulous mother, whom without I honestly don't know how the day would have turned out as she really worked her bum off coming up to the event as well as on the day, as I said she knows how to throw a party!! As well as gorgeous tables, my family surprised my with HOPE Balloons, which really completed the look of the room, and to be honest it was in that moment when I saw the balloons on that stage that it hit me as to what was actually happening!! I just stood there and thought "I have done it. This is an event I am hosting. I actually have gotten to this point!" For just a split second, I has flash backs to about two years ago when I was jobless, unsure of what was next for me and if I would ever be able to live a 'normal' life again, and there I was about to go on stage and tell people my story, some friends, some family and to my surprise a few unfamiliar faces, which made me realise what I had just achieved even more so. Despite the fact that the room looked amazing, our line up for the day was incredible and the afternoon looked delicious, I was still so scared that no one would show up. I can't describe how I felt all morning. I was so nervous that the incredibly talented (and lovely) make up artist, Emily Morris had taken on the job as my therapist for the morning, calming me down while making me look human after weeks of no sleep! Doors opened at one, and all week my mam and dad kept saying no one will be there at one, well weren't they wrong as by half one we were looking for more tables! The fact that people not only turned up but were in the most amazing form, was just the icing on the day. From start to finish, there was a party vibe to the day. Everyone high spirits and yes we were there to raise money for a fantastic charity, but most of all we were all a group of ladies looking for a day full of beauty, pampering and fun, and that is exactly what everyone I got!! Our nail tech Lauren did not stop, from 3 hours straight she was treating people to a gel manicure, she was booked up with 20 minutes of being there! We were so lucky to have 4 make up artists from the Sharleen Collins Make up Academy there for the 1st half of the afternoon giving their tips and tricks for everyone as well as applying full faces of makeup for those who wanted it. We were so lucky to have the incredible Emily Morris do not one but TWO demos or some key looks for this Party season. Emily is extremely talented and one of the kindest people I have ever met, so it was a privilege to have her join us for the day! Not only did we have a hair demo by the fabulous Lisa from Insane Manes in which she showed us how to get the perfect curl from Christmas, we were also very lucky to have two other talented hairdressers for the day. the night before I received a text from a really good friend of mine, Becky Bollard to ask if I would like her and NIamh O'Connor to come on the day and do people's hair, and they were an absolute hit! You guys loved them, so a huge thank you to them for offering their services and coming on short notice! As well as demos we had live music by the extremely talented Rachel Greene ( she is not a relation, that was the top question of the day!). Her voice is so unique and it was a real honour to have her perform during the afternoon tea! We also were extremely lucky to have the boys from Stolen City close up the day, and what an ending! They were incredible, as always. A HUGE shout out to Sean from Stolen CIty has he helped with the sound all day and I really had his heart broke!! Last but by certainly no means least, the day would not have been complete if it wasn't for the two speakers that we had, my cousin Derek Lynch and (now a good friend of mine) Sarah Boland from the blog Sarah's Struggle to Slim. The reason why I asked these two people to speak was because they both know what it is like to struggle mentally, but from two completely different things. They both spoke from the heart and did not hold back one bot. Both speakers had the crowd in tears, but also by the end of their talks had everyone in the room feeling inspired and encouraged to become a better version of themselves. Although I am a chatter box, I can't begin to tell you how hard it is to get up on a stage in front of a big crowd and talk about yourself, honestly, it is the hardest thing in the world. I only spoke for about 0 minutes about my struggle and i broke down, but those two, they stayed strong and I can't tell you how much they both inspired me. The reason why I loved having two completely different guest speakers was to show you that every person's struggle with mental health is different, and everyone's mental health is affected by different hings but just because they are different, it does not make any one person's struggle more or less important or difficult. To top off this incredible day we also had a surprise talk by Dean Bollard, one of Sarah's trainers, who told us all the benefits of exercising on your mental health and I for one was totally inspired to grab my runners for a walk instead of cake when I am stressed from now on! I could go on and on about the day, but to be honest it really wouldn't capture how incredible the day was. The energy from every single person in that room was electric, and as I said it felt like a party, and that's because it was. It was a victory party for every single person who has ever felt so low as if their life could not go on, but they kept going. It was a celebration for those who have fought through this illness that is depression, anxiety etc., and have come out of it the other side. It was a victory for those families, like my own who were constantly on alter as they feared their loved one was a danger to themselves. Most of all it was a day of remembering those who unfortunately did not feel as if they had the strength to go on and a day to prevent more people from feeling like that. Before the day was out, I had so many people asking was this going to be a yearly thing and the question is YES!!!! My mam is going to say ( and has already said) "are you mad with the wedding in September?, but the truth is that the feeling of handing over that money to Pieta House was incredible. To think that we helped someone, like me, to get through a system that saved my life is an unbelievable thing. It is not very often that I praise myself, but I am extremely proud if myself. Not only did I kick Mental Health's ass this money is also going to help someone else do just that, and THAT is the best feeling in the world! We have been thinking about the day and what we would change. I definitely want to keep it as a ladies' day, because the atmosphere that day was incredible, the excitement of ladies getting together whether they were family or friends, they had the day to them selves free from any duties, to just enjoy themselves, and that is something I definitely want to keep! However, I want to constantly change these things up so it means that those of you who came this year will still be interested to come next year and we will have new surprises for you guys! As the first event has come and gone, I have a better idea of how to do things so from the 1st January, I will be working on the next one and constantly keeping you up to date on the future plans! Of course it is way too early to reveal dates or anything but fingers crossed, we are aiming for November 2018! So guys, that is a very very BRIEF description on the event, if i was to go into more detail. we would be here til next Christmas!! As I said there were so many people involved and I have mentioned all involved over the past few days on social media so a huge thank you to every single one of you who helped in some way. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Boomers Bar who not only allowed us to host the event there, they couldn't have done any more to help us on the day so a huge thanks to them and of course to my family who as always, were my absolute rock on the day. Last but not least, I want to say a huge thanks to you. Yes YOU, the person reading this. It is because of you that I had the strength and courage to host an event like this. It is because of you, that on my darkest days I give myself a gentle push to get out of the bed because I think to myself, "what if it was someone who reads my posts who was struggling, what would I say to them?" It is thanks to you, that I have developed a passion for helping others, for sharing my story and most of all it is because of your support and love that I am the person that I am today, so thank YOU!!! Love as always, Em XX
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April 2018
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