Why is collaboration important? A CEO’s point of view

At RAFT we really believe in collaboration.  The fundraising team collaborate with the scientists and vice versa.  We collaborate with other charities who are our strategic partners and we collaborate with scientists all over the world.  Sometimes it doesn’t work out how we expected but we always come out of any collaboration a stronger and better organisation because we have collaborated.

So why do it?  We collaborate for three main reasons:

1) It would not be good use of people’s money if we tried to do everything ourselves.  We prefer to spend the donations we receive on doing what we do best and collaborating with others who have the skills, equipment and expertise that we don’t.

2) We learn so much from collaborating with others.  For example, without our collaboration with the Lindsay Leg Club we would not have met the hundreds of people who suffer with leg ulcers that the Lindsay Leg Club work with.  The suffering and challenges faced by these patients is helping us adapt our Smart Matrix for use in chronic wounds.  We believe in carrying out research that will really make a difference to people and there is nothing like talking to people who may need our research.

3) We believe we can do things quicker and better working with others.

Finally one last personal reflection - I like working with others because I like people and luckily, the majority of people I have met through professional collaboration have been people I’m proud and pleased to work with and I think my staff would agree.

Eeek… new home!

The freeze dryer was transported to a company in Sheffield from RAFT. They will provide a clean room (sterile environment) for the manufacture of the smart matrix scaffold under good manufacturing practice (GMP).

The freeze dryer is an essential part of the manufacturing process as it is used to remove the water content (moisture) from the smart matrix scaffold to increase shelf life (stability) of the product, hence, long term storage.

Godfather backs RAFT

(Note: recipe at end)

Chef Peter Gordon, whom many consider the ‘godfather’ of fusion cuisine, is proud to be a patron of RAFT.

“I personally am very aware of how skin disfigurement can affect peoples’ lives, and am therefore thrilled to be an ambassador for RAFT’s Wound Healing Appeal,” says Peter.

“I know how important and often life-changing the work that RAFT does—and will continue to do—really is. Improving the lives of people who have suffered injuries or disfigurement, along with invaluable research into skin cancer and ways in which to prevent it, are key to what RAFT is all about.

“I really think it is important that people become more aware of how profoundly lives can be affected by skin disfiguring illnesses and accidents, and the ways in which they can help.”

Peter is renowned for his unique culinary philosophy, influenced by his extensive travels around the world.

Growing up in a small town in New Zealand, Peter didn’t discover avocados or sushi until he moved to Australia in his late teens where he studied cooking. Form there he travelled to Asia where a whole new culinary world opened before his eyes. This was to become the greatest influence on his culinary style.

In 1986, he returned to Wellington, New Zealand, to set up the kitchen at the original The Sugar Club restaurant. In 1989, after two and a half years running The Sugar Club kitchen, Peter made the move to London, where he gradually introduced his eclectic style of cuisine, now called fusion. He left The Sugar Club in November 1999 to begin various solo projects, culminating with the opening of The Providores and Tapa Room in 2001

Peter is widely recognised as a strong promoter of the food industry in both New Zealand and the UK where he uses his culinary skills to raise money for numerous charities – such as RAFT. His annual charity event for leukaemia in the UK, Who’s Cooking Dinner?, has raised more than £4 million over 14 years.

Story behind the dinner

In 1994, in Australia, Peter’s sister, Tracey, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Later that year, he donated bone marrow to her. On the opposite side of the world, having also been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, restaurateur Chris Corbin was undergoing a bone marrow transplant in Hammersmith Hospital.

Following his sister’s full recovery, Peter decided that he wanted to raise money to help similar families battling with leukaemia and he joined forces with Chris to create the dinner and make it an annual event.

The recipe that follows is very typical Peter in which he brings home the taste of Asia but with ingredients which can be bought in the UK.

“Fusion [cooking] can create the most stimulating meal you’ll ever eat,” he says. “It’s fun and it’s playful. It’s simply one of many cuisines, and it happily sits amongst them like a magpie, borrowing from them all.”

If you enjoy Peter’s take on cooking, eight cookbooks of his are available on Amazon.co.uk. Some recipes can also be found on the BBC’s cooking site.

                                                  Spicy prawn noodle ‘laksa’

                                                              (serves 1)

Ingredients

·         5 large raw king prawns

·         1 bulb garlic, peeled and chopped

·         1 stick fresh lemongrass, chopped

·         55g/2oz fresh root ginger, chopped

·         dash vegetable oil

·         ¼ tsp ground coriander

·         ¼ tsp ground cumin

·         ¼ tsp garam masala

·         ¼ tsp smoked paprika

·         ¼ tsp ground turmeric

·         pinch chilli flakes

·         1 star anise

·         small handful fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus extra for garnish

·         300ml/½ pint hot water

·         salt and freshly ground black pepper

·         pinch caster sugar

·         55g/2oz spaghetti, broken into pieces

·         2 tsp sesame oil

·         pinch garam masala

·         ½ lemon, zest only

Preparation method

1.      Remove the heads from the prawns and peel the shells, leaving the very tip of the tail intact. Place the prawn heads and shells into a small food processor. Remove the intestine that runs down the back of each prawn with a sharp knife and set the peeled prawns aside.

2.      Add the garlic, lemongrass and ginger to the food processor and blend until you have a coarse mixture.

3.      Add a dash of vegetable oil into a hot saucepan, add the blended mixture and add the ground coriander, cumin, garam masala, paprika, turmeric, chilli flakes, star anise and basil. Fry for 1-2 minutes over a low heat, stirring frequently.

4.      Add the water to the saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and add a pinch of sugar. Drain through a sieve into a clean saucepan. Add the broken spaghetti, bring to a gentle simmer and cook until the spaghetti is cooked through and al dente.

5.      Heat the sesame oil in a frying pan, add the prepared prawns and another pinch of garam masala. Fry the prawns for 2-3 minutes or until they turn pink and are completely cooked through, then add to the broth.

6.      To serve, pour the broth into a serving bowl and top with fresh basil leaves and lemon zest, to garnish.

Why are conferences so important?

Meet the RAFTers: Laura

There is no such thing as an average day at RAFT - that’s why I love coming into work!  As a Community Fundraiser I am responsible for helping anyone who wishes to raise funds for our important research.  This makes my job so varied and interesting, with different supporters doing such a broad range of activtities to help us. For example, I may be presenting RAFT’s work to a Community Group or inviting people to our own events.

I love my job! 

If you want to organise an event or do some fundraising for RAFT (and you can find a whole range of ideas on our website http://www.raft.ac.uk/fundraising/fundraising-ideas.html), then get in touch with Laura for help.  All you need to do is call her on 01923 844017 or via email ripley@raft.ac.uk  She will either talk through your ideas or provide you with some of ours. 

At RAFT we are dedicated to helping anyone who wants to help RAFT raise funds and/or awareness.  We will stay in regular contact before, during and after your event.

‘You’re all scum and you know it’

No, not really, I don’t mean you…well…I probably don’t mean you. But as a writer you’re never too sure who is reading this. For instance, you’re not a gladiator are you?

Now that you are no doubt completely and utterly confused by this, let me explain.

For some reason with me, when I see an actor in an extremely notable role that just burns into my memory, that’s where they stay for ever and ever. For example, Meryl Streep, loved her in Deer Hunter and then saw her in Kramer vs Kramer. For her acting she won her first Academy Award in Kramer, but her character was such a horrible, conniving person, I’ve never liked Meryl since in any role – I don’t care if she is dancing around a Greek Island or not bending in Parliament.

Harrison Ford – has he done any movie in the last 15 to 20 years that has made you not curse the invention of electricity? But, he did do Blade Runner and the first three Indian Jones films so he’ll always be in my good books.

This brings us to RAFT patron, Siân Phillips, award winning British actress of stage and screen.

My first exposure to Siân Phillips was when she play Emperor Augustus’ wife Livia in the BBC television series I, Claudius back in 1976. To say that her character was thoroughly Machiavellian would be an understatement. With her slender frame and chiselled cheekbones, she just didn’t look the part, Siân Phillips was the part as she pulled all stops to ensure her progeny sat on the Roman throne.

In a scene that I can remember like it was yesterday, Livia goes to address a team of gladiators who will be putting on a fight in honour of her son Tiberius. Although Livia is accompanied by several Roman soldiers, she did not need them in the least as she tore into gladiators with her ‘inspirational’ speech.

“You’re all scum and you know it…I want my money’s worth, I don’t want any kisses in the ring…and don’t try to fool me because I know every trick in the book,” she shouts at the huge men.

Even in real life, Siân Phillips comes up with these wonderful, take-no-prisoners quotes. After being wed to fellow actor Peter O’Toole for twenty years (her second out of three husbands), she said this about the happy state of matrimony.

“For me, marriage should come with a government health warning. I get boils and eczema. I never feel, and then I feel absolutely marvellous as soon as I am on my own again.”

Now when you read that quote, you perhaps see Siân Phillips speaking this as in one of her roles such as in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Smiley’s People, or perhaps in the theatre in Calendar Girls, Lovesong, Gigi, or Pal Joey.

Lucky you.

I can only see Livia.

So, as a patron of RAFT, if and when she does pay us a call, please forgive me if I spend her entire visit hiding under my desk and whispering to myself: “I am not a gladiator, I am not a gladiator….”

Fisher Scientific Equipment Show at Wembley

One of our suppliers, Fisher Scientific, had an UK event at Wembley  Stadium in April.  Khwaja and I went along to this. Eighty suppliers were there exhibiting their laboratory products. We were offered the opportunity to see new lab equipment and to collect free samples to bring back to RAFT. I saw a gadget there which would be really useful for cleaning the Tissue Culture Hoods.  I requested more information on this product.  There were talks from speakers such as Professor Brian Cox and Werner Gruber and demonstrations all day. The whole event, including lunch, was free.  I really enjoyed  the day.

Nimisha Patel - RAFT Research & Laboratory Assistant

The importance of regular donations

Research is expensive.  RAFT needs to raise in the region of £1 million per year in order to carry out its vital research to improve current treatment for patients…..this equates to approximately £85,000 per month – no mean feat!    Invoices come in daily, and wages need to paid monthly – it is therefore crucial to the Charity that income in received on a regular basis.

Our Accountant’s dream would be to have a little pot (okay, a medium pot) of funds which he knows will be coming in on a monthly basis.  Might you be able to help?  A regular donation of say, £3, £5 or £10 would be fantastic.  It is so easy to set up and the fundraising team would be delighted to help.

Please contact us today 01923 844588, charity@raft.ac.uk

Fake Bake Glitz and Glamour ball

On Friday night a celebrity packed, glitzy ball was held at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu hotel to help raise vital funds for RAFT’s research.

This glamorous ball was aimed to highlight the dangers associated with sun-bed tans and to educate people on sun awareness – all part of Fake Bake’s Save Your Skin Campaign.

The event attracted celebrities such as Peter Andre, Amy Childs and Michelle Heaton and RAFT was also delighted to see Katie Piper showing her support there too.

RAFT’s CEO Leonor Stjepic, along with fellow colleagues Amanda Bailey, Kate Chaundry and Khwaja Islam were delighted to attend the event and were touched to see so many people in attendance.

Leonor says:

“RAFT was thrilled to be invited to be part of this very special evening and we were delighted to be one of the selected charities to benefit from the occasion.  RAFT is an independent medical research charity and we depend entirely on support such as this.  Funds donated from the evening will enable RAFT’s dedicated team of surgeons of scientists to get improved treatment to patients, who have suffered major traumas to their skin, in the quickest possible time”.

After everyone enjoyed a lavish four course meal, a raffle, silent auction and auction took place to raise as much as possible for our vital research into skin cancer.

RAFT would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Fake Bake’s CEO Sandra McClumpha for so generously selecting RAFT as her chosen charity for this event and for all her ongoing support.