Events Past, Present & Future
Coast to Coast Cycle
We are delighted to announce that Rob, Charlie & Jonjo Ashbrook and Karen & Adam Smith have accepted the challenge to ride Coast to Coast from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, a journey of 140 miles!
They are hoping to gather a larger team…
We wish them luck and look forward to updating you.
London Landmarks Half Marathon
Another fabulous day at the LLHM. Our 14 runners donned FAIR shirts and set off with almost 19,000 others on the 13.1 mile (21km) course passing landmarks including Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Courts of Justice.
A spectacular performance from Ben Leaman who won the men’s race with a breathtaking time of 1 hour 9 minutes and 2 seconds.
Thank you to our runners: Rob Ashbrook, Maddie Ashbrook, Lucy Bell, Gary Billington, Theo Bould, Kate Cleary, Matt Cleary, Dan Grinnall, Ben Leaman, Connor Lee, Robyn Rafferty, Tom Rafferty, Jill Sankey and James Shaw, together raising more than £7,000 for FAIR.
Post run celebrations continued long into the night!
Our thanks to Joe O’Reilly for printing the shirts and to all who donated and supported.
London Landmarks Half Marathon 2024
We are excited to announce that FAIR is a charity partner of the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2024
Rural Raffle
A raffle with a difference courtesy of Clay Farm Partnership / Beech Hay Livestock.
Supporters were offered the chance to win semen from one of these handsome rams: Dutch Spotted, Zwartbles or Border Leicester.
Our thanks to Rob, Vicky and Dan Grinnall and to all who purchased a number!
Christmas auction
Louise Edwards, artist and designer of several of our Christmas cards, has kindly donated her painting of a Christmas Pudding to be auctioned online for FAIR.
We have an opening bid of £100.
If you’d like to bid, please email us at faircharityuk@gmail.com
Closing date 6 December 2023 at 4pm.
Research awards
FAIR’s call for applications for Research Awards attracted applications of the highest standard from research groups across the UK and beyond. As a result of the generosity of our supporters we have been able to fund three separate research projects including the Ann Wyn Sherman Research Award, the FAIR Research Award 2022 and a further FAIR Research Award for 2023. The projects we will fund are led by respected research teams nationwide and focus on a range of different autoimmune conditions. For details please see ‘Research’.
Angela Thorne
Supporters of FAIR will have been saddened by news of the death of Angela Thorne. Matthew Dennison reflects on a wonderful actress who was a great friend to FAIR. His piece is to be found in the ‘Our supporters-In Memoriam’ section above.
Hickstead
We are delighted that Chloe Breen chose to donate to FAIR the proceeds of a raffle held at the Breen Equestrian Stud Open Day and Spring Auction 2023. Chloe, a former winner of the Hickstead Speed Derby, is involved in the running of Hickstead Show Jumping and Breen Equestrian. We are grateful for her support.
Success at the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023!
An exciting day at the London Landmarks Half Marathon. We are so grateful to our 12 runners headed by Ben Leaman who crossed the finish line joint first! A remarkable achievement.
Click below for more photographs and information.
London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023
We are excited to announce that FAIR is a Charity Partner of the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023.
The LLHM offers a fabulous central London half marathon route adorned with musical performances, dancers and themed cheer stations. The theme of the FAIR cheer station is to be the Thames Frost Fairs.
Carol Service 2022
Join us at our popular Candlelit Carol Service on Tuesday 6th December 2022 at 6:30pm at Christ Church Chelsea SW3 4AS.
Tickets £25 including mulled wine and mince pies.
For tickets please contact faircharityuk@gmail.com.
Christmas cards 2022
Our Christmas card designs for 2022 are now available. All original artwork designed for FAIR by Rebecca Hewitt and Louise Edwards.
Available in packs of five for £5.
Size 21cm x 15cm.
See the Christmas card section on our homepage for all designs.
For orders please contact faircharityuk@gmail.com
New Research Awards
FAIR is delighted to announce two new research grants including the Ann Wyn Sherman Research Award. Please click on our Research tab for information.
May Ball
We are grateful to John and Jill Melia for inviting donations to FAIR at their glorious May Ball. Held on a beautiful summer evening, guests danced to a Ceilidh band and enjoyed fine wine, food and company. A fabulous four figure sum was raised for FAIR.
Family Ness 750km challenge
Emily, Cheryl and Stephanie are cycling, swimming and walking the 750km distance between Crolour, France and Paignton, Devon over 15 weeks in memory of their mother Cyndy Ness. We are delighted that they will be raising money for FAIR. To support them or follow their progress please visit their Just Giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/familyness
F.A.I.R. carol service
Another joyful evening of carols at Christ Church, Chelsea. We were joined by distinguished readers including Petroc Trelawny, Angela Thorne, Geraldine Somerville and Douglas Reith and by Dr Jim Down, consultant in critical care and anaesthesia at University College London Hospital, who has written about his experiences as an ICU doctor during the pandemic in his book, ‘Life Support: diary of an ICU doctor on the frontline of the Covid crisis’.
The Moreton Hall Chamber choir, conducted by Director of Music Helen Rayner, delighted the congregation alongside soloists Tim Wonnacott and Ellie Diack. The evening was filmed by members of the Radley College Film Crew.
We are grateful to all involved and in particular to our Patron, Pandora Clifford.
F.A.I.R. carol service
The F.A.I.R. carol service is back!
Please join us at Christ church, Chelsea on Tuesday December 7th at 6:30pm for an evening of candle lit carols with stars of screen and stage.
Tickets £25 to include mince pies and mulled wine.
Warwick and Warwick charitable donation to Fair
We are delighted to announce a generous donation from Warwick and Warwick to FAIR.
Caz Mcmenamin's marathon for FAIR
Caz Mcmenamin ran her first marathon for F.A.I.R in memory of her best friend Finn
Festive cocktail masterclass
A virtual festive cocktail making class with mixologist Stephen Conroy, hosted by Matthew and Grainne Dennison.
Barcelona Marathon 2020
Caroline McMenamin was due to run the Barcelona Marathon for us in March 2020 until the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Supper Party, Bunbury
Nicola Elsegood organised a lunch and a and supper party within the same week to raise funds for F.A.I.R.
Chelsea Carol Service
A glorious candlelit service at this beautiful place of worship. Music from the choir of Moreton Hall and readings selected by Matthew and Grainne Dennison. Distinguished readers at our carol services have included Dame Penelope Keith, Angela Thorne, Bertie Portal, Dervla Kirwan, Douglas Reith, Hugh Fraser, Rupert Penry-Jones, Alistair Petrie, Pandora Clifford, Matthew Sweet, Geoffrey Munn and Dr Tom Cairns.
Tickets £25. Please contact : faircharityuk@gmail.com or pay direct into FAIR account a/c no : 17217768 sort code : 30-98-90
Dinner Dance & Auction, Wirral Golf Club
Organised by Jude and Gavin Cleary, a wonderful event raising more than £1,500 for FAIR. Most unusual auction lot of the evening: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital dog pyjamas!
Fingask Follies
By kind permission of Phil and Susie Godsal, a fabulous evening at Iscoyd Park: drinks and canapes, a delicious 3-course dinner cooked by Iscoyd’s amazing chef and his team and an evening of song and satire from the renowned Fingask Follies.
Half-Marathon, Bath
Ellie and Kate Robson raised over £500 for FAIR running a half-marathon in memory of Finn Abberton.
Ceilidh and Auction
Jill and John Melia hosted a Ceilidh to the strains of The Gypsy Rogues with generously donated auction prizes. A New Year’s Eve event raising over £3,000 for F.A.I.R.
Rowing Challenge, Chester
King’s School (Chester) Rowing Club held a Million Metre World Record Attempt in memory of Finn Abberton (OKS’14 & 1st VIII 2012-2014), raising more than £3,000 for F.A.I.R.
National Garden Scheme, Tarporley
Jeannie and James France-Hayhurst opened their garden under the National Garden Scheme with tea and cake served in aid of F.A.I.R. Jeannie and James also kindly allow us the use of a stall at their annual Christmas Fair.
Charity Auction Lot, Warwick & Warwick
The second generous donation by way of charity lot from the customers of Warwick & Warwick, Auctioneers, Chester.