Wembdon Village Day Car Boot - 29/08/11

My first event for fundraising monies was selling all sorts of tat goods, mostly with permission, from my house and cupcakes. The day before my sister and I drive to the supermarket for a cupcake ingredients bulk buy. Rolling in at 7:30pm we remember it is Sunday and all the supermarkets have closed. So no cupcakes.

Awake at 6am armed with what looked like the contents of a Hawkins Bazaar catalogue I made my way down to the venue. On arrival I drive into my pitch which happens to be next door to the car boot equivalent of Toys 'R' Us. These guys were the real deal - first to arrive to get the same THREE pitches every year. Their car was like a Tardis with an endless supply of stuffed Pepper Pigs! On top of this PC World and the Me to You bear factory set up opposite. But I was not going to let this intimidate me, it may be my first time but I had the power of charity posters!!

The VSO posters worked in my favour when the steward came round - asking for the £7.50 charge per pitch - but leant over to me and, to my surprise, quietly said "Since it's for charity we'll let you have it for free." Thank you man in high vis jacket! In your face teddy Tardis!

Before the gates opened I had a few things to learn about car boots. Yet to set up my junk, many people started approaching me. One peered into my car with his lazy eye whilst another requested to see all the DVDs and games I had, offering me a tiny amount of money. Knowing full well they were about to make an appearance on a stall meters away, I sold several PSP games to a young farmer for £20. And so the fundraising begins.

Once the crowds started coming people were showing quite an interest. One two year old took a particular liking to a Family Guy box set but I felt it would be inappropriate. With a miniature bike going for £20; a one handled pogo-stick bought for £5; and DVDs bringing in the odd pound here and there I quickly reached £77.50. At this point my mum turns up to buy me lunch. Once refuelled on burger and cider the selling continues along with a few donations.

A young boy was my last buyer of the day, taking 15 minutes to decide what was worth his final few pounds. He bought a gym ball (since his sisters was punctured) and a joke book for £2.50 - bringing my final sales to £145. A successful day I think - now off to a family friends to be fed BBQ and poured copious amounts of drink.

Fundraising progress: £396

Introduction

I've never written a blog heretofore, mostly because they would consist of nothing but my latest Bejewled scores (which is an impressive 747,400 by the way). Now I am going on this Global Xchange placement to Namibia and Newcastle I have a valid reason to make one.

So, as of October, I will be spending 12 weeks in Rundu, Namibia, followed by 12 weeks in Newcastle, UK. This is one of many volunteering placements with Global Xchange. Before going I need to raise £1000 as well as having all sorts of liquids injected into my arm.

This page will cover my pre-departure trainings and fundraising as well as how the 3 months in both Namibia and Newcastle pan out. So please have a read - I will keep my posts short and sweet to avoid boring people. Also visit my Just Giving Page for more information about my placement.