Bebo

Toni <tonilouisa>

	BeCause Award Update	619 dni temu
	Thought it was about time I updated on my BeCause award and recorded some of the good things that have happened as a result, both as a thank you to Bebo and UnLtd but also as a way of maybe encouraging others to apply. At the beginning of 2007, I was feeling a bit despondent. I had been running my website, the Information Point for Centronuclear and Myotubular Myopathy, for 6 years - it had grown more important in my life than I had ever intended or imagined, having started as a project for a college course. My workload with the website had increased significantly, it was no longer just a personal interest and at times felt like a full time job. The website was being maintained using outdated computer equipment and borrowed software. I had been forced to upgrade to a broadband connection - it was an expense I felt I couldn’t really afford but a necessity if the website was to continue. So, the website was costing me both time and money. I had started to search for funding but had no idea who to approach, so contacted lots of big organisations asking for sponsorship and subsequently had lots of doors slammed in my face. I got the feeling that a lot of organisations were not interested, because I was not a charity. Then, about half way through the year, I heard about the BeCause Awards and thought it might be worth applying. I got short listed on my first attempt and a friends daughter rallied all her friends on Bebo to vote for my project. (Big hugs to Sophii). The Information Point subsequently won the first BeCause Award. Winning was great for a number of reasons; I have been able to buy some new computer stuff including software and the grant money also helped pay for my broadband connection and some business cards. As a result of having proper software, my web design skills are slowly improving and the broadband connection, means I am able to work at a reasonable speed when updating the website and producing the e-newsletters, which I now do 3 times a year. The money also enabled me to part fund a workshop at a Family Conference about Centronuclear / Myotubular Myopathy and paid for travel expenses to attend a medical meeting and speak to doctors about the condition. Sometimes with the website it is difficult to gauge the impact of my work but at both these events, I was actually able to see a difference being made, which was amazing. In addition, getting the funding has given me a real boost to continue with my work. Having someone believe in me and actually putting their money where their mouth was and supporting me has been great. I am very proud of my award and now display the UnLtd logo on my website for others to see what I have achieved.
	opublikowane przez Toni