Muscles volunteers spring into action.

Following Steve and Beckies Muscles ‘Wedding of the Year’ on Easter Saturday in rural Suffolk attended by volunteers from the UK, Belgium and the USA, a team of twelve descended on Grange Farm, and settled into a familiar work pattern on 7th April, attracting traveling members from Cheshire and Leytonstone.

The mission – demolish and remove an existing garden shed and replace it with a new one.  No problem.  Combining the usual mix of humour, friendship and hard work, the job was completed in four hours.

 

More photo’s are featured on the UK Muscles 2018 page, (including the wedding) at https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/muscles-uk/uk-2018/  – and the person who made a ‘real difference’ ! plus Boz Junior, the visiting team member from Cheshire.

Message to the team from the delighted recipient, Trish Leggett,
“To just say “thank you ” to all these wonderful guys is simply not enough. They arrived in force on Saturday to dismantle my garden shed and after a quick coffee (or rather a strong tea for Bernie! ) off they went.
Their team work is amazing and together with their various areas of expertise , my old shed was gone and after some much needed refreshments, up went the new one !!!. I am THRILLED with it.
I feel so privileged to know this group of people and proud to be able to call them friends.
THANK YOU GUYS. I LOVE YOU ALL. Xx”

 

Winter weather disrupts Muscles schedules on both sides of the Atlantic, but exciting jobs are on the horizon, . . .

The majority of Muscles for Charity projects involve teams working outside. Winter storms on both sides of the Atlantic prevented the respective teams from starting jobs. However, the Spring of 2018 provides exciting possibilities from Seattle to the Belgian countryside where the Abbey at Tongerlo celebrates its 888 year anniversary.

Brother Gabriel displays his prepared list of jobs and the Belgian team welcome any/all Muscles volunteers to join them at the Abbey during the weekend 12/13th May 2018.

In the Seattle area, volunteers are again involved in the Tour de Cure, whilst the UK team are preparing a large garden project, courtesy of Rotary International. 

 

The world visits Muscles for Charity – 2017

The Muscles for Charity website is powered by WordPress and each year at this time they provide statistics for the previous twelve months.

• On average our website is visited approximately 5,000 times annually.
• Visits in 2017 originated in 45 different countries, dominated by the UK, USA, Canada and Belgium.
• The full list includes France, Russia, Ireland, Australia, European Union, Togo, United Arab Republic, Germany, Moldova, Singapore, Nepal, Spain, Zambia, China, Thailand, Denmark, India, Israel, Netherlands, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Morocco, Uganda, Portugal, New Zealand, Lesotho, Peru, Tanzania, Italy, Brazil, Ukraine, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, Benin, Greece, Alaska and Turkey.

Thanks to everyone who participated in another extraordinary year of fun, friendship and international co-operation.

2018 represents our twentieth anniversary.  Happy New Year everyone.

 

Muscles for Charity – Christmas message 2017

As we approach another new year Muscles for Charity volunteers, celebrate the completion of 390 projects, involving over 14,800 voluntary hours, benefiting 131 registered charities or non-profits in 10 countries.

We never handle any money.

Our self-sustaining Tool Fund enables the UK team to replace existing tools, purchase bespoke tools for specialist jobs, provide funding for safety equipment and insurance cover for all UK members.

This is made possible by the significant organization and contributions of the Bentley family, – Nick, Deanne, George and Jodie – and fully appreciated by the team members, building on the wonderful foundation provided by ‘our Lady Sarah’.

2018 represents the twentieth anniversary of Muscles for Charity.

During the last two decades the team has grown from its Suffolk, UK roots to a multinational, award winning organization with a reputation for completing tasks to a high professional standard with humour, friendship and compassion for senior citizens.

Thanks to everyone involved.

Festive greetings from everyone at Muscles for Charity.

“Muscle’s annual garden manicure demonstrates and defines what teamwork, friendship and generosity actually stand for”.

Muscles co-founder, Bernie Morgan’s quote (above) captures the essence of the team as fourteen volunteers tackle a garden clearing project in rural Suffolk for a military veteran.  The sun shone as the team tackled the recipients ‘wish list’ (below). Photographs courtesy of co-founder Phil Boswell.

 

During 2017 the UK team, several of which feature above, contributed over 450 voluntary hours towards the overall total of 14,850 hours. Thanks everyone.

1969 movie ‘The Italian Job’, what’s the connection with Muscles for Charity ?

On Wednesday 25th October, 2017, David Markby and Bob Piggin left the UK on a ten day car rally based upon the original 1969 Italian Job film starring Michael Caine.

The trip was not just replicating part of the movie, it involved raising money for children’s charities, now in its 28^th year, and has raised almost £2.5 million. The 2017  charity is Variety, which supports sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK, principally with coaches, wheelchairs, and specialist equipment and facilities.

That’s part of the Muscles for Charity connection – volunteering to raise money for a registered charity.  The additional part is David and Bob wore Muscles for Charity shirts during the adventure.

The Rally took place over a ten day period and ended on 4th November. Bob and David drove 2,500 miles from Sandhurst to the Emilia Romagna region of Italy (the birthplace of Ferrari), and back via Venice, Turin, Colmar and Rheims, to Ashford in Kent for an Awards Dinner.  The 4 day Navigational Rally took place in Emilia Romagna, and included  laps around the San Morino Grand Prix Circuit in Imola, after which then to Venice and Turin.

In Turin they visited the old Fiat Factory at Lingotto to drive around the original rooftop test track which featured in The Italian Job film (pictured below), followed by driving along the route taken by the three escaping minis after the Turin gold robbery – on this occasion being escorted by a team of police motorcyclists, rather than being pursued by them!

Bob and David also visited the Ferrari factory where Enzo Ferrari has the honour of being introduced to David Markby !!

 

 

 

 

Follow photographs of David and Bob’s ten day adventure, enjoy their humour and/or donate to the Variety – Children’s Charity by visiting their website –  http://www.italianjobteam96.webs.com

The Rally was open to all cars which featured in the 1969 Film – mainly Minis – and later versions of those cars.  The Jaguar XJS they drove (which David owns) is 30 years old, and a successor to the Jaguar E Type which appeared in the film.

Congratulations to David and Bob on an inspiring adventure and raising thousands of pounds for charity.

With a little help from my friends, . . . . .

. . . . .  who arrived from the UK, eastern and western Washington State, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, to help clear a Kent, WA garden and establish a fence at the rear of the property.

Meet the international garden make over team

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Meet the WA fencing project team

Initial marking and final oversight by Gene, with Muscles contributions by Frank, Chris, Bill, Jessa, Glenna, Garrett, Titus, Suzanne and Bish.

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“I cannot believe how hard everyone worked on my garden and I will never forget, and will always be grateful to the Muscles team”  Suzanne

 

 

UK Muscles volunteers complete 5k and 10k challenges in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and finish 1, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

‘Victory Outreach International” host an annual event raising money and awareness on behalf of a non profit outreach.  As part of a world wide ‘Walk and Run-a-Thon’, the 2017 Pacific Northwest event,  featuring 5k and 10 k challenges was held at North SeaTac Park near Seattle and attracted competitors from across the area and four volunteers from the UK Muscles for Charity team.

10k challenge ‘Veteran’, Colleen triumphed in the Women’s race, with Big Bernie placed third in the Men’s race and Big Kev coming fourth (in his first competitive race after practising  running round his lounge in Ipswich). Frances finished second in the Women’s 5k race.

Congratulations to the traveling quartet.

 

“Beyond being pleased with help from an amazing ‘Muscles Team’ who made a brilliant improvement”

Meet the twenty three Muscles for Charity volunteers, from the UK and Belgian teams, who transformed the garage, garden and a selection of interior rooms at Grange Farm, Suffolk on Saturday 29th July 2017

The home owner, Margaret, (featured below discussing progress with co-founder Bernie Morgan and Richard Crabtree) was delighted with the results. The following three charities benefitted from the teams work – British Heart Foundation, Potts UK and Ehlers danlos support UK.

Photos courtesy of Phil Boswell

Teenage Muscles team member volunteers in rural Africa

 

Suffolk based teenager, and Muscles for Charity volunteer, George Bentley recently returned from a school based expedition in south east Zambia, where the team completed three projects at two schools in the Singazonwe District.

At Kariba South Primary they introduced a litter-picking initiative, cleared an area of large boulders (picture above) to be turned into a playground and refurbished a local business called the “Young Tailor’s Club”, whilst at Siansowa Primary they moved bricks, sand and cement bags 3km from the front of the school’s grounds to the site and constructed a large chicken coup which will be used to provide extra income to the massively underfunded school by selling eggs to the local market.

The Headmistress of Kariba South Primary commented: “The impact the team had on the local community is beyond words” – which would not have been possible without your support.

Everyone in the community expressed appreciation for the projects the team accomplished and the tools that George gifted them on behalf of Suffolk based, non profit, TWAM.

Muscles for Charity co-founder, Bernie Morgan said, “Top Man George. We are all immensely proud of your achievements here – well done”.