Following the untimely death of their daughter
Samantha in December 2005 to SUDEP, Helen
and Mike Pennicott wanted to find a way to
raise awareness of epilepsy and decided to
open a memorial fund in her name. Donations
from friends and family at the funeral raised
over £1,100 but that was not enough.
Finding different ways to part people from
their money, Helen, along with Sam's boyfriend
Darren, decided to do a skydive from 10,000
feet. Considering Helen has a fear of heights
and Darren fears flying, this seemed the
obvious option! On 11 June, at Dunkeswell
Airfield, they launched themselves out of
a perfectly serviceable aircraft with just
a large silk hankerchief attached to their
tandem friend. Luckily they landed in one
piece and ensured Sam's fund had a fantastic
boost.
Helen skydiving
Darren's landed
Each year, Le
Creuset (Helen's employer) chooses a
charity to support. In memory of Sam, it
was decided to sponsor Epilepsy Research UK. In August, a "Farmfest"
was held in Postbridge, Devon, where 499
people attended a mini rock festival and
had a fantastic time. With tickets, hog
roast and the usual beverages, over £2,300
was raised for the charity.
On 24 September, 26 employees from Le Creuset,
members of their families, customers and
suppliers, cycled "Le Tour De Store"
from the shop in Andover to the shop at
Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. After 51 miles
of cycling, drinking water and eating chocoate,
their aching limbs managed to raise over
£2,000 to boost the memorial fund.
With all of this and Sam's friends running
the London Marathon, we hope to raise £10,000
by the first anniversary of her death. Plans
for madcap fundraising for next year are
already on the drawing board.
In July 2006, Mike was presented with a
posthumous BA Hons Degree for Sam - the
work she had completed for her degree in
Interior Design was enough to ensure she
was awarded the accolade she so richly deserved.
Epilepsy Research UK would like to thank
the Pennicotts for their involvement with
the charity. Our Memorial Funds play an
essential part in funding our research.
This year, they are supporting Professor
Annette Dolphin's project looking at changes
in cell structure where seizures start.
