Outgoing Hounslow Mayor Breaks All Fundraising Records
Raises more than £70,000 for charity work in the borough
Former Hounslow Mayor, Councillor Sue Sampson, has broken a fundraising record for her charity work in the borough, raising an incredible £73,975.91, and funds continue to come in.
Each incoming Mayor in Hounslow chooses two charities for which to fundraise. Cllr Sampson chose Refuge and The Pink Ribbon Foundation. Refuge supports women and children experiencing domestic violence and The Pink Ribbon Foundation supports UK breast cancer charities.
Cllr Sampson has been an active campaigner for Refuge for a number of years by working to raise awareness of domestic violence. The cause is close to her heart after her sister Maureen was fatally shot at her place of work by her estranged husband in 1976, aged just 23 years old. The tragedy happened when Cllr Sampson was only eight years old and inspired her to campaign against domestic violence. Refuge first opened its doors in the UK in 1971 and its first safe house for women and children was established in Hounslow.
Cllr Sampson chose The Pink Ribbon Foundation because she is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2006, aged 38. Her experiences that followed - particularly in the oncology departments at West Middlesex hospital and Charing Cross hospital, where she received chemotherapy and radiotherapy - made her realise just how many people are affected by breast cancer and the impacts on the victims as well as their children, families and friends.
Councillor Sampson, former Mayor of Hounslow and current Cabinet Member for Leisure Services said:
“My choice of charities, Refuge and The Pink Ribbon Foundation were chosen as both causes have had a major impact on my life.
The work I have done over the years and will continue to do, along with the money I raised as Mayor over this last year goes towards ensuring the doors to Hounslow Refuge never close, and that they will continue to provide emergency accommodation as and when needed to women and children.
It was difficult to find one breast cancer charity that could reach everyone, that's why I chose The Pink Ribbon Foundation because through them I was able to have the money I raised ringfenced, which enabled all Hounslow breast cancer charities or individual breast cancer sufferers to apply for a grant to help them.”
During her tenure as Mayor, Cllr Sampson attended approximately 352 events across the borough.
She continued: “I have had the privilege of being invited to attend so many events this last year. I have such fantastic memories of all of them but the one that will forever have a profound effect on me was the Kids in Care Awards.
I was asked as Mayor to hand out medals and certificates to Hounslow children who had either been placed in our care homes or with foster carers, and who had achieved something great. I had a lot in common with most of the children at the event as I had been placed with foster carers when I was a baby, but fortunately enough for me my foster parents went on to adopt me. I remember standing on the stage thinking, ‘I don't remember any awards ceremonies like this when I was a kid!'
Anyway, I'm glad there are now. The successes of our most vulnerable children in the borough really are outstanding.
In 2012, not long after first being elected as a Councillor, I had been approached by a family for help. It soon became apparent that their young child was being abused. Not being a qualified professional in this area I made the judgement call as a parent to involve Children’s Services. When you make a report of this nature it becomes a child protection case so it is not something you can follow up as a Councillor. All I knew was the child had been removed from the family.
I had often wondered what had become of that child and if I had done the right thing. I hoped she had forgiven me having been removed from her family as a result of my actions. It played on my mind over the next six years.
Whilst on stage at the Kids in Care Awards a child's name was announced to receive an award. I was in disbelief and thought. ‘Surely not, it can't be?’ As the young child came walking up the red carpet towards me I knew instantly I had done the right thing! She looked the picture of health, nothing like the last time I saw her. The child remembered me and thanked me for what I had done. She introduced me to her foster carers and explained who I was and my involvement in the case and they too thanked to me. After a very emotional evening I finally had peace of mind as far as the child was concerned
I’d like to personally thank all the foster carers and staff who are supporting our vulnerable children to achieve and make the most out of life. I’d also like to personally thank everyone who has supported me as the Mayor over this past year.”
June 23, 2018