In a new campaign called Ctrl+T, Epilepsy Scotland will:

• Help families and young people be as prepared and informed as possible
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate information is available so timely choices can be made for the young person’s future
• Signpost the help and support available so that young adults, their families/carers are more in control.

Ctrl+T will be launched at an Epilepsy Transitions Reception at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 21 September, at 6pm.

Epilepsy Scotland, on behalf of the Joint Epilepsy Council, and event sponsor Richard Simpson MSP will host this Epilepsy Transitions reception.  The Cabinet Secretary for Health Wellbeing & Cities Strategy will address the meeting of over 50 guests and MSPs.  There is an Any Questions, Any Answers session and a DVD case study showing one young person’s experiences in transition.

There is also the opportunity to get girly to support Epilepsy Scotland – find yourself a bargain at the LK Bennett shopping event, where you can support this great cause and also get 20% off!  There’ll be drinks, nibbles and LK Bennett stylists on hand to give you top tips on what’s in and what’s not, as well as being treated to a fabulous fashion show!

The weather is playing havoc with the equanimity of organisers of the Loch L8Mond challenge this Sunday…it’s an exercise in patience and hope that the weather will allow the 8 mile swim to go ahead.

Swimmers are counting down the last days, kayakers and support teams are at the ready.  Updates zing into the Inbox on a regular basis and the excitement is building!

All eyes are on the Met Office.  All our thanks is with the people who have already donated to Cancer Research UK.  All our best wishes are with the swimmers!

If you want to come and support the guys, it’s byob barbeque; the swimmers will be starting off at 10 and crossing the finish line about 1pm – but the barbeque will be gearing up around midday, so come along and get involved – hopefully the only snags will be on the barbie!

We work with the wonderful people at Epilepsy Scotland, and the idea that people still stigmatise this illness is shocking.  Especially when there are around half a million people in the UK with Epilepsy; this illness can affect people in a variety of ways, from quite mild affects to rarer instances of far greater impact.

Details of the show should eventually appear at:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr3p/episodes/2011

We’ve also got the “final” route map which, when you can see the whole thing, shows just how far the Loonies will be swimming! It will be no small feat!

We’ll be cheering you on, guys – and getting the BBQ sizzling for you!

Loch L8Mond swim

The Loonies will be doing an 8 Mile swim in Loch Lomond on September 11th, starting at 10am, with a barbecue at the finish line around midday for anyone who’d like to come along and support the swimmers.

In keeping with the Loonies’ dedication to good causes, they are also donating the swim to Cancer Research UK and are raising funds for the charity via www.justgiving.com/Mike-Stark8Mile.

http://www.walkthewalkfundraising.org/the_good_the_bad_and_the_stubbly

Unfortunatley, our team member can no longer take part due to injury, however, given that a man is braving the 26 mile walk in a pink bra, please lend your support if you can!  Anyone – male or female – willing to brave Edinburgh at midnight in nothing but a pink bra and the knowledge they are raising money for breast cancer research deserves as much support as we can give!!

We’ve just heard Martin Taylor on the Beeb – a local guitar hero being interviewed because one of The Greats said he was the best.  It’s fantastic to hear everyone singing his praises.

Kudos Martin!

TED Talk – Steven Johnson talks collaboration

I’m thinking we might have to create/produce a follow up – maybe “Ideas Into Action”..!   The Creative Space is vital but equally important is the ability to transform ideas into products and services that help clients and customers – and requires its own specialised creativity.

As we are a “specialised creativity” organisation, we are about to launch several new products for corporate clients – they’ll be available on our website soon.

If we can help in the meantime, or you’d like to try out some ‘creative space’ to get connected and find out how video can help your business, please get in touch!

The frozen loch offered stunning views as swimmers and supporters started to arrive; and some of the helpers deserve special mention. We would like to thank the wonderful Tricia Stark and Marion Sloss for organising the raffle for the Rangers signed football and to them and others for organising the mulled wine, mince pies and small feast! We’d also like to thank Dr Brian Lafferty and Angie Hughes for being on hand in the event medical attention was required by any of the swimmers. We’d like to thank Cameron McMurdo for photographing the event.

Most of all, we’d like to thank the swimmers themselves, who threw themselves into the ice with such enthusiasm and dedication (in no particular order): Audrey Thompson, Fiona Ramsay, Brian Lafferty, Ken Morrison, Mel Anderson, Anna Crawford, Jane Egan, Richard Parker, Dave Stark, Stuart McPhail, Jason Moore and Our Fearless Leader, Mike Stark, who did indeed strip off the wetsuit and go back in with Dave following suit (or un-suit as the case may be!) in support.

A further £135 was raised this morning, bringing the total raised so far to just over £2000.

While some of the swimmers were disappointed that the inches-thick ice cover made it difficult to have a decent swim, Steven Davis made his appreciation known, ringing the team to say that they had a tough task but that he hoped the guys had fun.

“You’d have to be a bit crazy to do [the swim] in this weather but it’s a really good cause for people to give to,” said Steven.

His wife, Tracey, who has been involved in creating and supporting the event and who came along to support brother Jason and the other swimmers said, “I think everyone I know has been touched by this disease in some way; everyone knows someone affected by it…Steven and I just really wanted to help.”

If you would still like to lend your support, the JustGiving link will be live until 7^th January.  A video of the event will be online shortly and we look forward to supporting more worthwhile causes in 2011.