Dan’s 3K Fun Run – On the 5th April Four generations of Newton’s (Reginald Bottom, Roger Newton, Linda Newton, Richard Newton, Fiona Newton, Thomas Newton and Grace Newton) and Liz Bough, Barry Bough, James Bough, Katie Bough, Paul and Sue Dunn completed the 3K Fun at Rother Valley country park.

Derby 10K – On the 19th April 2009, Karina and Phil Basterfield along with a group from the Fit Pit gym in Belper (Ann and Andrea Stone and Matt Rowe) completed the 10 kilometre road race in Derby.

Greetings Card Sale – Sylvia Harrison has made a series of greetings cards that are being sold at No 14 Studio in Jordanthorpe, Sheffield.
Bolsover Big Mile – The Bolsover Big Mile took place during National School Sport week at the beginning of July 2009, with 23 of the schools in Bolsover district taking part. Nearly 3500 teachers, parents and children took part from Bolsover school, Bolsover Infants, Bolsover Juniors, Duckmanton, Palterton, Frederick Gent school, Glebe, Green Infants, John King Infants, Longwood Infants, Kirkstead Junior, Heritage School, Barlborough, Creswell Junior, Whitwell, Shirebrook School, Park Infant, Park Junior, Stubbin Wood, Whaley Thorns, Tibshelf school, Morton Primary and Townend Junior.

Table Top Sale – On saturday 20th June 2009, Doreen and Roy Hannah, Shirley Newbold, Sylvia Crooks and Edith Stevenson held a table top sale including clothes, games and electrical items donated by friends and family of staff.

Erewash Triathlon – On Sunday August 16th 2009 at West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton, Clare Howard completed the Erewash Triathlon.

Robin Hood Half Marathon – On the 13th September the Nottingham half marathon was completed by David Bavington, Lloyd Bennett, Doug Campbell, Jamie Crossland, Matthew Cuff, Tom Daniels, Andy Doodson, Chris Dibble, Simon Elvin, Katie Evans, Will Evans, Adam Gater, Vicky Hyland, Tina Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Matt Johnson, Adam Kilner, David Kilner, Simon Kirby, Simon Leadley, Phil Mangle, David Marshall, Dan Middleton, Iain Mottram, Dan Newton, Ross Norbron, Dan Rawkins, Jon Rhodes, Matt Rowe, Sandie Shaw and Karen Soulby.

Macclesfield Half Marathon – On the 27th September Hayley Lever completed the Macclesfield half marathon.

Leicester Half Marathon – On the 11th October 2009 Jon Lee completed the Leicester half marathon.

Bolsover 11K – On the 13th December Jon Rhodes on behalf of Angela Stead completed the Bolsover 11k.

Christmas Hamper and Tree Decorations – A hamper put together by Sharon Sullivan and Dooreen Stoker and decorations made by Ruby Vickers were auctioned and sold at No 14 Studio in Jordanthorpe, Sheffield.

In 2009 many of our friends and family supported us to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Charity; a charity which exists to support and enhance the services of Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust and its reputation as a centre of excellence for the research, prevention, care and cure of childhood illnesses.

Presenting the cheque to the hospital

On the 11th December we presented a cheque to the charity for £17,350, the collective effort of so many people in memory of Benjamin.

A-F Karina Basterfield, Phil Basterfield, David Bavington, Lloyd Bennett, Reginald Bottom, Barry Bough, James Bough, Katie Bough, Liz Bough, Doug Campbell, Sylvia Crooks, Jamie Crossland, Matthew Cuff, Tom Daniels, Andy Doodson, Chris Dibble, Paul Dunn, Sue Dunn, Simon Elvin, Katie Evans, Will Evans and Adam Gater.

G–M Doreen Hannah, Roy Hannah, Sylvia Harrison, Clare Howard, Vicky Hyland, Tina Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Matt Johnson, Adam Kilner, David Kilner, Simon Kirby, Simon Leadley, Jonathon Lee, Hayley Lever, Phil Mangle, David Marshall, Dan Middleton and Iain Mottram.

N-Z Shirley Newbold, Fiona Newton, Grace Newton, Linda Newton, Richard Newton, Roger Newton, Thomas Newton, Ross Norbron, Dan Rawkins, Jon Rhodes, Matt Rowe, Sandie Shaw, Karen Soulby, Angela Stead, Edith Stevenson, Doreen Stoker, Andrea Stone, Ann Stone, Sharon Sullivan and Ruby Vickers.

In addition, 3,500 teachers, parents and children from twenty three schools within Bolsover school sports partnership.

The money will assist the hospital in giving every child the possibility of overcoming their illness and living a happy healthy life. The individual projects supported are:

Baby Simulator (£7,175) – ‘SimBaby’ is a ‘high-level patient simulator’, which includes a whole body baby mannequin. The mannequin, which has a realistic anatomy, drives mechanical and computer software allowing very sophisticated modelling of cardiovascular & respiratory systems.

Intensive Care Unit (£7,175) – The charity have ring fenced funds for each ward and department, this allows the staff working on each ward to spend their fund at their discretion, as and when needed.

Patient Interactive System (£3,000) – The systems provide an education and entertainment system at each bedside.

Kerry and Dan Newton, December 2009

The Botanical Gardens in Sheffield is one of the places that we visit to remember Ben as during his pregnancy and short life we visited a number of times.

We have sponsored a tree in the gardens, where in July 2009 we spread his ashes. The tree is located in the ‘Four Seasons Garden B’, easily accessed from the Botanical Road entrance.

Follow the path between the four seasons garden (B) and birch hill (E) towards the pavillion, when you pass the second large tree on your left and before you reach the waste paper bin, there are three tree’s positioned in the middle of the patch. Ben’s is the middle one. A larger map of the gardens can be located at www.sbg.org.uk/map.asp.

Benjamin Invitational

‘The Benjamin Invitational’ will be a series of sporting competitions in memory of our brilliant boy.

In the coming years we will invite friends and family to come together, participate, celebrate life and raise money.

The first Benjamin invitational will be a half marathon and will take place on the 13th September 2009 in Nottingham. The participants will include:

David Bavington, Lloyd Bennett, Sharon Catherall, Jamie Crossland, Matthew Cuff, Tom Daniels, Andy Doodson, Chris Dibble, Simon Elvin, Katie Evans, Will Evans, Kristian Gadsby, Adam Gater, Ben Green, Vicky Hyland, Tina Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Matt Johnson, Matt Joy, Adam Kilner, David Kilner, Simon Kirby, Simon Leadley, Jonathon Lee, Phil Mangle, David Marshall, Dan Middleton, Iain Mottram, Dan Newton, Ross Norbron, Dan Rawkins, Jon Rhodes, Matt Rowe, Sandie Shaw, Karen Soulby, Angela Stead and Jason Thomas.

In winner will be the competitor who completes the course in the quickest time.