2012 ‘Tour de Cure’ Cycle Challenge includes 12 Muscles volunteers.

‘Tour de Cure’ is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 44 states across the USA to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist.

On Saturday 12th May 2012, over a thousand riders enjoyed wonderful weather and gorgeous scenery amongst the hills, lakes and countryside to the north and east of Redmond, WA. Whether the riders chose 10 miles or 100 miles, they traveled a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer them on. This was reflected by nine Muscles volunteers who operated the first and busiest ‘Rest Area’, at Maltby. (Ody, Bill, Glenna, Joie, Suzanne, Amy, Sandy, Michelle, and Conie)

Three members of the team (Frank, Hoby and Bish) chose to ride the 100 mile route.

Thanks to everyone involved. A further selection of photographs are available by visiting the Muscles – USA (2012) section of this website at -                         http://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/usa/usa-2012/

“We don’t touch money, we just touch hearts – UK version”

Winter storms damaged fencing on either side of Alice Knotts home on the outskirts of Ipswich. But the nonagenerian knew her friends at ‘Muscles for Charity’ would help her and on a sunny Spring morning, eight of them fixed all her fencing – fast !

With financial assistance courtesy of national charity – ‘Independent Age’, and a suitable amount of ‘Muscle energy’, she can now enjoy her garden again.

The team welcomed new volunteers, Richard Crabtree and Nic Bentley – especially his fantastic fence erecting tools.

The photo (left) shows part of the garden after the winter storms, and (below) the great work by everyone in the team – supervised by a delighted Alice !

Well done, guys.

“We don’t touch money, we just touch hearts”

Muscles volunteers celebrating in Bellevue, WA on Saturday 17th March 2012, after the largest ever work party tackled an interior house painting project.

Painting and celebrating, all in one day.  The painting project included bedrooms, corridors, the lounge, laundry and larder at a detached house operated by ‘Helping Hands for the Disabled’ in Bellevue, WA.    Visiting Muscles volunteers representing Canada, Belgium and UK joined US members from across the State and Colorado, and a team of 28 volunteers transformed the home during a six hour painting session.

Great job everyone.

The subsequent celebration recognised the 2012 milestone of Muscles volunteers contributing over 10,000 voluntary hours.

More photographs and information on the Muscles – USA (2012) page, including information on the teams involvement and support for the 2012 ‘Tour de Cure’ supporting American Diabetes.

“The fence is intact, sturdy, and looks fantastic!.”

When Tricia Higgins fence required repair and replacement she made two decisions.     The first was to invite the Muscles team to help and the second was to chose a registered charity that would benefit from the ‘A’ teams work.

 

Muscles volunteers, – Kev, Tony, Alan, Bernie, Simon and Phil - hard work drew praise from a relieved Tricia,  “Can I just say thank you so much for such a great job yesterday – it’s taken a load off my mind, I used to worry about looking outside every day in case the fence had disappeared!  I was a bit worried this morning as it was very windy again, but now I’m reassured that I don’t have to worry any more – the fence is intact, sturdy, and looks fantastic! Thanks again, for the hard work and the friendly attitude.”

For the work at Tricia’s Martlesham Heath home her chosen charity was NSPCC.

Muscles for Charity starts 2012 by reaching another milestone.                                              100 registered charities have now benefited from our work.                                                          Thanks to the efforts of all our volunteers.

Festive greetings from everyone at Muscles for Charity

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.

December 2011 and Muscles volunteers have notched up over 9.550 voluntary hours, benefiting 99 registered charities in seven different countries.   GREAT JOB EVERYONE.

                                          From the Muscles Christmas Archive

A festive story from the Muscles archive. The team were invited to install Christmas decorations at the home of the Mayor of a small rural town. The team were not aware that the Mayor’s wife was a Walmart enthusiast and appeared to have imported almost the whole stock and range of that stores festive decorations. On a bitterly cold Saturday morning the team worked hard to install, connect and check the installation whilst the male family members remained (uninterested) in the warmth of the family home. Mid afternoon the (frozen) volunteers departed. Overnight a winter blizzard hit the area and redistributed the decorations across the town and adjacent fields. Christmas karma.

Reminder – Muscles website now available on android cellphone or iphone

A phone friendly version of the Muscle for Charity website is now available on your android mobile phone or iphone.

Visit http://www.musclesforcharity.org anywhere!

‘Magic’ Muscles in Micronesia

Denver based Muscles volunteers Chris Manos, Brenda Cartwright and John Marx (with help from Deanna Hay) firmly placed ‘Muscles for Charity’ in unchartered waters during a trip to one of the small island groups in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific.  The four small islands, (population 11,200) that make up the ‘State of Yap’ consist of rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, surrounded by an outer barrier reef.  Promoting Muscles, introducing the logo and concept, the trio helped raise funding and awareness across the Pacific island.

How did Muscles for Charity feature in Yap?    International Magician, Chris performed a series of magic shows at no cost benefiting the non profit organisation that promotes local traditions for the small island.  Chris performed his magic in front of a crowd of around 500 people at Yap’s Third Annual Canoe Festival.

Two one hour slots represented the first time that magic had been performed on the island, and was broadcast live on Pacific regional              radio to islands as far away as Guam and Palau.   This resulted in Chris, Brenda, Deanna and John being involved in an increasing number of impromptu ‘magic shows’ as the word spread.  Chris was subsequently presented with a special canoe paddle by the Island Chief, and left the island with the satisfaction of watching the faces of hundreds of new fans.

Muscles for Charity, connecting people and charities

In November each year, the Village Hall situated in the quiet Suffolk village of Hasketon opens its doors to charities and invites local folks and visitors to their  early festive season Charity Fair.

Muscles for Charity are regular contributors and during the last decade have completed a number of projects for local people. This year, the event was visited by a Gospel choir from Birmingham, wearing ‘Love Haiti’ shirts.   In the summer of 2010, an international group Muscles volunteers joined the Belgian team to raise money and awareness for the earthquake victims in Haiti.  This link was quickly identified and featured at the Charity Fair and our photo (below) features a member of the choir with Amanda from Kyzone Kidz Group (a local play group and recipient of a Muscles project).

The Muscles (Belgium) contribution to the Haiti disaster fund an be viewed on this website by visiting Muscles – Belgium 2010

Muscles USA – Raising finance and awareness for ‘Helping Hands for the Disabled’

For many years Muscles for Charity has been associated with Bellevue, WA registered charity, ‘Helping Hands for the Disabled’, and the volunteers who attended the annual Auction and supper on Saturday 5th November 2011 proudly displayed the Muscles banner for the first time outside Europe.

Visit the Muscles USA 2011 page for more details and photographs.

If its October, its got to be Rendham and a tree in the river

Rendham 2010, and the Muscles team descended on Keith and Julie’s rural home at Rendham, and helped to remove a large tree from the River Alde at the bottom of their garden.

Rendham 2011 and the Muscles team returned to an almost idential spot to assist Terry and Fran Titmus by removing trees and rubbish from the same river, and re-roofing their garden shed. Progress on clearing the river is reflected in the before and after photos.

 

While the majority of volunteers were busy working near the river bank, Steve was sharing his professional knowledge and experience with Terry and Bernie, Kev, Ed and David re-roofed the large garden shed.

Terry and Fran acknowledged the teams efforts ;  “ What can we say – except a very very big thank-you for a great job on Tuesday (midweek team) and Saturday (main team). I’m sorry I was unable to see everyone on Saturday as the chest and throat infection took hold big time. Wrapped in a blanket I did manage to go down to the river late afternoon and “what joy” we have at least forty foot more at the bottom of the garden and it looks really beautiful (I knew it would). As well as the store being extra watertight now and Steve giving Terry much appreciated advice on our house repairs we now have three sizeable worries off of our list. We are going to donate to “Parkinson Disease Society”, to “Madsods” and to “Wallace Kennels”. Once again thank-you all very very much for your support, love and for a fabulous job “  Fran and Terry.

Thanks everyone, especially Johan and Rob who flew over from Antwerp for this project.