FROM: Jackie Marsh
SUBJECT: Re: Poppy
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 20:19
TO: A Cure for Poppy
e donated to poppys appeal on the website but lost thepage beforeit ended >shouldbe €5 if theyve taken €50 let me know boom-boom lets kick cancers butt Jackie
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S9
www.f*ckbuddy.com www.f*ckbuddy.com
FROM: Chris Wilkinson
SUBJECT: Donation
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 21:13
TO: A Cure for Poppy
Dear A Cure for Poppy,
My wife and I were greatly moved by Helen Grace-Hayward’s speech last night. We would like to donate £500 to the ‘Poppy Appeal’ in memory of our daughter.
Belinda was born in 1973, a very happy, energetic and artistic little girl. She was the only one, so she had all our attention, and we had all hers. Unfortunately the wonderful life we thought we had, and barely appreciated at the time, was not to last. Just after her fifth birthday we noticed Belinda’s speech becoming slower and her hand movements uncoordinated. She was eventually diagnosed with inoperable Fibrillary Diffuse Astrocytoma, a slow-growing brain cancer. That term was to haunt us. ‘Slow-growing’ seems preferable to ‘aggressive’, and yet it only meant she died more slowly. Appalling to experience and to watch. She would endure various treatments over the years. We tried conventional and alternative therapies, but sadly in 1989 at the age of 16, Belinda died.
It seems so cruel to allow someone to live just long enough to appreciate the life they will never experience. She has been dead now for many years longer than she was ever alive. Yet for us time stopped then. Nothing since has had as much meaning as her death. She was robbed of her future and we were robbed of ours. The pain and sadness have scarred us forever. Even our nieces and nephews born since Belinda died consider her death to be something that happened to them. The shockwaves have been felt throughout our family for a generation and more. That is the legacy of tragedy.
The question ‘Do you have children?’ haunted us from that moment. There is no comfortable answer. If we say ‘no’ we deny her any existence at all, and in no time we are in a conversation about childlessness that we know nothing about. If we reply ‘yes, but our daughter died’, it creates a mortifying moment for whoever asked. It is human nature to seek out even a shred of positive in any overwhelming disaster. Over the years, so many people have assured us we are ‘lucky’ to have had the ‘privilege of knowing her’, and that is ‘better than never having known her at all’. I just nod in response. It wasn’t a question, and that isn’t my answer.
Just after Belinda died, her school planted a sapling in her memory, alongside a beautiful commemorative plaque. But recently we discovered both were removed years ago to make way for a new classroom block. They hadn’t thought to tell us at the time and no one at the school knew what, if anything, had become of the tree or the plaque. We were also struck by the realisation that no one at the school today remembers our daughter at all. We considered dedicating a bench on the hill, in a final effort to keep her memory alive after we are gone, but at Saturday’s event we realised the best way to remember Belinda is to help give another young girl the chance of life she never had.
Please let me know the address I should send our cheque to. With it we will enclose love, light and a lifetime of good wishes to Poppy, her family and the doctors treating her – all in the hope they will not endure what we have.
Chris and Marion Wilkinson
FROM: A Cure for Poppy
SUBJECT: [Automatic reply] Re: Donation
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 21:13
TO: Chris Wilkinson
Dear Donor,
Please make cheques payable to Martin Hayward and send to the address below, or hand to Reception at The Grange Country Club. Your contribution is very much appreciated.
A Cure for Poppy
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Email
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 21:31
TO: Martin Hayward
Please see the email forwarded below. You might want to sit down before you read . . .
On 20 May 2018 at 21:27 Clive Handler wrote:
Dear Ms MacDonald,
I attended last night’s fundraising ball in aid of A Cure for Poppy and want to say how moved I am by Poppy’s story and her friends’ and family’s obvious devotion to finding a cure for her. When we can launch hardware into space and create entire virtual worlds, I find it unthinkable that the drugs Poppy needs are available but unattainable. In the face of a situation like this, all other progress is pointless.
Whatever the appeal raises, I want to donate the remainder of the required £250,000, but only on the basis that I can do so anonymously. This email account is a pseudonym.
However, I have not made this type of donation before and must seek financial advice to ensure I do not make the family (or my company) the unwitting recipients of a large tax bill or other unforeseen legal penalty. Please bear with me and I will be in touch regarding protocol for the payment.
Yours sincerely, Clive Handler
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Re: Email
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 21:49
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
I’m lost for words. How remarkably generous. Do you know who it could be? If you don’t mind, can we keep this to ourselves – at least until the money arrives? Just in case it doesn’t happen. I don’t want to raise hopes only to dash them again. We’ve had enough of that these last few weeks. Regards.
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Re: Email
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 22:06
TO: Martin Hayward
Good idea. There’s many a slip ’twixt cup and lip. I asked Kevin who it could be (don’t worry, he won’t say a word). The fact that he mentions space travel and virtual reality, plus not having made a corporate donation before, might suggest a young entrepreneur. I want to stay calm and realistic. But if this is a genuine offer, then A Cure for Poppy’s work is done. We can secure the treatment and get Poppy on the road to recovery. I’m not a believer in luck, but this could convert me.
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
PS The website and ball proceeds take us to almost £170,000 – please let me know how much you’ve received offline, so I can quote an accurate figure. Well over halfway.
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Important
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 22:15
TO: Tish Bhatoa
Dear Dr Bhatoa,
We are sorry you had to miss Poppy’s Ball yesterday. It was a huge success and we now have £125,000 available to send as our first payment. I anticipate raising the remainder very soon. Please can you let me know where we go from here? Regards, Martin
FROM: Tish Bhatoa
SUBJECT: Re: Important
DATE: 20 May 2018 at 22:22
TO: Martin Hayward
Dear Martin, that is excellent news. I will place the order via my private practice as soon as I receive the funds. Please transfer £125,000 to my business account, details below. Again, I was sorry to miss the event. Tish
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Bits and bobs!
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 13:02
TO: Samantha Greenwood
I’m in the roof garden. Still haven’t recovered from Saturday night, and enjoying the peace and quiet up here. It’s a lovely view. I don’t know why more people don’t come here for lunch. I’m focusing on tomorrow’s first rehearsal without scripts. I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I’m sure Tony Zucchero must have been mistaken about Poppy going blind. You know how civvies get the wrong end of the stick. I suppose she may have metastatic tumours on her optic nerve or a separate condition, but I’m not aware of any paedy-chemo that causes blindness. Are you? Anyway, why would the Haywards keep it secret when they’ve been so open about everything else? See you after work for our jog. Nev
er thought I’d say this about exercise but I can’t bloody wait. Love Issy xxx
FROM: Paige Reswick
SUBJECT: Wig
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 14:30
TO: The Little Princess Trust
Dear Wendy, thank you for our chat on the phone. Just to confirm: the wig is for my daughter Poppy, who is 29 months old. She is having chemo for eight weeks and her hair seems thinner already. I want her to get used to wearing a wig as soon as possible. I look forward to receiving your list of participating salons. I’m afraid I am unable to pay anything towards the cost. Thanks again.
FROM: Claudia D’Souza
SUBJECT: Hello
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 14:50
TO: Samantha Greenwood
Dear Sam,
I hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoyed your big charity event. I thought of you on Saturday night and wondered if it was going well. Must be very motivating to have a target to aim for. Like the old scanner appeals – when every hospital had a big thermometer outside the main entrance . . . money is quantifiable in a way so many other things are not. A good friend of mine is in Patient Liaison over at Mount More, so I can ask her about the chemo your friends’ little girl may be on. She won’t comment on individual cases, but she knows about the drugs. How terrible if she’s going blind as well. Life is not fair. Shall we meet up for lunch one day this week? Let me know when your clingy friend isn’t around – don’t want to cause more trouble in the ward-zone. C x
FROM: James Hayward
SUBJECT: Tonight’s rehearsal
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 15:00
TO: All My Sons cast and crew
Dear all,
This is a gentle reminder that tonight’s rehearsal is strictly books-down. No hiding your script in a newspaper (Barry) and no writing lines on the scenery (Nick). It will feel as if we’re going backwards when the play was starting to take shape, but anyone who has acted before will know this is a necessary step to move the production on to the next level. My father has sneaked in a cheeky bet that at least one cast member will have to pick up their book at some point during the rehearsal. I have a counter-bet that you won’t. DON’T LET HIM WIN. See you tonight. James
Message from Martin Hayward to James Hayward on 21 May 2018:
15:10 Martin wrote:
What are you talking about? I haven’t bet on anything. Why do you say such stupid things?
FROM: Carol Dearing
SUBJECT: You!
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 13:20
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Did the dinner dance raise all Poppy’s money? It looked like they made a fortune. There was some cash in that room all right. You were practically running that event single-handed, Sarah-Jane. I hope the Haywards are paying you for all your work. I know it’s a good cause, but you’ve got a home and family of your own. I love Helen and Martin as much as anyone, but would they do the same for you if Harley were ill? Perhaps you can have a rest now and they can take over the appeal. Mum
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Re: You!
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 13:32
TO: Carol Dearing
Of course I’m not being paid, Mum. It’s a crowdfunding campaign. The Haywards are beside themselves looking after Poppy. James and Olivia are about to have twins. Anyway, without tempting fate, the appeal may have done its job.
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: News update
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 18:23
TO: Current Members
Dear all,
I seem to start every letter with an apology, and on this occasion it’s for the sheer length of time between our last update and this one – as well as for the customary unanswered emails, messages and texts. I know Helen keeps some of you updated at rehearsals, but for those not directly involved in the play . . .
First things first. Poppy has just undergone her third bout of chemotherapy at Mount More. While after her first two treatments she would bounce back with little more than a day in bed, this time round she’s been knocked for six. As if to make things worse, her hair is falling out. Of course this is to be expected and is a sign the drugs are taking effect. However, as you either know or can imagine, it is also devastating evidence that something is very wrong with her. We are therefore entering a difficult stage for the family and (another apology) I’m sorry if we do not seem our usual selves over the next few weeks.
Through it all, one thing that keeps us going – apart from little Poppy herself – is the support of our friends. On behalf of the Haywards and the Reswicks, we would like to thank everyone who helped organise and/or attended the recent charity ball. I am delighted and humbled to report that, as a result, we have raised enough money to place an initial order with the US manufacturer. While this is more than we could possibly have hoped for, it is still not enough. Now the order is placed, we are committed to raising a further £200,000 in the next twelve weeks. Therefore our fundraising continues apace.
Sarah-Jane has done a sterling job launching the appeal, but going forward we believe the most productive course of action will be to establish a fundraising committee to spread the word and the work more evenly. So if you have a few hours a week to spare for fundraising activities, let us know. Sarah-Jane will remain as Campaign Coordinator and is brimming with ideas for the next stage.
The Fairway Players committee has already agreed to donate the proceeds of our forthcoming play All My Sons, and various other members have events coming up, including Sam’s half-marathon and Beth’s charity Bake Off. Words do not do justice to the gratitude we feel for the kind and generous people who surround us. Regards, Martin
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Money raised?
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 18:26
TO: Martin Hayward
I make the amount raised so far, less expenses, £143,750. Surely the figure required now is £106,250, less the amount raised offline (let me know this, so I can add it to the final figure) . . . Your email says we need £200,000 – are there expenses I’m not aware of? I haven’t heard from Mr Handler, but if he emails again we’ll need an accurate figure for him.
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Re: Money raised?
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 18:33
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
I’ll speak to you tonight before the rehearsal. Regards.
FROM: Marianne Payne
SUBJECT: Re: News update
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 18:44
TO: Martin Hayward
Count us in on the committee, Martin. In the meantime we’re all saying double prayers for Poppy. Karen went on a hen night to Liverpool and lit a candle at the cathedral. Mick asked St Peregrine for his intercession, so we’re doing everything we can.
I’d like to speak privately to you about another matter. Mick says I shouldn’t, and that it’s all about personal choice, but I’m going to anyway. I know a lady who organised a trip to Lourdes for her son. She brought back some little bottles of holy water and has some left. I know you are not Catholics, but the healing power of Lourdes is unconditional. You can slip the water into Poppy’s juice. No one need know. If this is something you are open to, just ask. If not, then at least I’ve mentioned it. With all our love, Marianne and Mick
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Hugs!
DATE: 21 May 2018 at 19:28
TO: Samantha Greenwood
Hiya Sam,
Thanks for your help today. I’d forgotten how much fun work could be! We should ask to be placed together more often. Yay! Books down tonight . . . I’m a bit nervous, but a bit tingly as well. I know we’ll see each other in half an hour, but I just want you and Kel to enjoy tonight and not worry too much. At this stage in Blithe Spirit I had a massive confidence crisis. I felt I was letting the whole group down and no one else seemed to understand, even though they knew it was my first play. It
was James who took me aside and said everyone feels like that, they just don’t let on. Perhaps that’s why they hate it when someone voices those fears – if it’s all left unsaid, they can pretend everything’s fine.
Will you be volunteering for the fundraising committee? I’m not sure I’d be much help on my own, but I’ll do it if you do. So, not long now until we find out if all our word rehearsals were worthwhile . . . If you’re feeling wobbly, just send me a text. I’m only sitting outside waiting for Martin to unlock the hall, so you won’t disturb me. See you later. Love Issy xxx
FROM: Ben Taylor
SUBJECT: Sorry
DATE: 22 May 2018 at 08:29
TO: Glen Reswick
Dear Glen,
I’m sorry to hear about your daughter and wish her a full and speedy recovery. I understand you are busy with family matters, so won’t beat about the bush. Unfortunately, under the circumstances discussed at our meeting last week, we cannot justify renewing your contract with Robinson EcoField. Apologies if this comes at a bad time, but I’m sure you understand that our priorities must remain with our permanent workforce and the best interests of the company as a whole. However, if anything changes in the future we will be in touch.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Taylor
Chief Executive Officer, Robinson EcoField Ltd
FROM: Lydia Drake
SUBJECT: Fundraising
DATE: 22 May 2018 at 08:41
TO: Martin Hayward
Dear Mr Hayward,
Emma Crooks, a very good friend of mine, gave me your email address. I believe I can help you raise the money for your granddaughter’s treatment. I recently helped a family in Bradford raise £60,000 in nine days for proton-beam therapy in Sapporo. My highly effective strategy combines conventional fundraising with trading in stocks, shares and other capital investments. I will explain in detail when we meet. I am available at a time convenient to you.
The Appeal Page 6
