Dear Friends
As you can imagine the last seven weeks have been very tough both mentally and emotionally and doing Ali’s blog proved to be just too much. As it was such a marvellous vehicle for everyone and new friendships were made and many old ones renewed, we felt we must keep it going as a valuable way of keeping in touch with you all. So here we are!
We have been working hard behind the scenes, though, and as you can see the money’s rolling in: www.justgiving.com/alirainback which is such a wonderful tribute to Ali. Thank you for being so generous in your giving and let’s exceed our target and ‘keep on keeping on’ for such a worthy cause.
We intend to create a Charity to enable us to get some serious corporate sponsorship and help with publicity, which we will let you know about as soon as it's set up. We want to use ‘Ali was a STAR’ as our theme and will need a logo incorporating a star and which epitomises Ali and all he meant, so any ideas would be most welcome. Are there any graphic designers out there who’d be willing to help design tee-shirts, posters etc?
We have many events in the pipeline and will publish details in due course but in the meantime please note:
Ski for a STAR: Courchevel 10th April 2009
Kimpton to Courchevel Cycle Challenge: 6-13th June 2009
Watch this space for further information and send any suggestions to: dianarainback@aol.com but please share your ideas with us on the blog and let us know about anything you’re planning so we can support you.
With Love
Team Rainback
ps We would still love any photos and memories of Ali that you may have and thank those of you who so kindly sent them-they mean a great deal to us.
Thursday 14 August 2008
Monday 7 July 2008
Friday 4th July 2008 - An Amazing Day.
Dear Friends
Friday 4th July will long be remembered for the very special send off for a very special man - our beloved Ali.
The sun shone, the Churchyard sparkled, friends met, smiles exchanged, memories shared, the Church packed, the flowers beautiful, the music wonderful, the words powerful, the tears flowed, the singing emotional, the laughter spontaneous, the tributes moving, the love palpable, the VW camper van raised applause, the village gridlocked, the pubs busy, the wine flowed, the mountains of sandwiches and cakes eaten, the memories happy, the loss irreparable.
God Bless you Ali-we love you so much and you'll live in our hearts for ever. Sleep tight Darling. xxx
Order of Service http://www.skinewgen.com/Alistair%20Rainback%20Order%20of%20Service%20v2.pdf
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and for the best wishes from all of you who were thinking of us elsewhere, you lifted our spirits and helped us through a difficult day. It was wonderful to see so many old friends, to meet new ones and thanks for the photos and stories about Ali you shared with us.
As a family we have been touched by all the love and support that’s been shown and for the hundreds of letters, cards, emails, texts, phone calls and visits and we do hope that will continue. Ali’s blog has drawn people together, reunited old friends and inspired many and we thank you for the wonderful comments and are proud that others too recognised his worth and loved him as we did.
Ali was a true STAR and in order to keep his memory alive we are planning some big fund raising events for 2009. Please watch out for information about ‘Ski for a STAR’ and ‘Cycle for a STAR’ which we hope will be challenging, memorable and FUN in true Ali Rainback style!!
Many of you promised to raise money in Ali’s name and we do hope that you’ll post your ideas and dates on the Blog so we can support your efforts great or small. Let’s try to keep those promises and raise as much as possible to enable us to help others through tough times as Ali would have done. We would love to keep in touch so please send your contact details to:
Alistair.rainback@skinewgen.com
With happy memories, heartfelt thanks, hope for the future and all our love
Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo, Jeanette, Charlie and Archie xxxxxx
Friday 4th July will long be remembered for the very special send off for a very special man - our beloved Ali.
The sun shone, the Churchyard sparkled, friends met, smiles exchanged, memories shared, the Church packed, the flowers beautiful, the music wonderful, the words powerful, the tears flowed, the singing emotional, the laughter spontaneous, the tributes moving, the love palpable, the VW camper van raised applause, the village gridlocked, the pubs busy, the wine flowed, the mountains of sandwiches and cakes eaten, the memories happy, the loss irreparable.
God Bless you Ali-we love you so much and you'll live in our hearts for ever. Sleep tight Darling. xxx
Order of Service http://www.skinewgen.com/Alistair%20Rainback%20Order%20of%20Service%20v2.pdf
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and for the best wishes from all of you who were thinking of us elsewhere, you lifted our spirits and helped us through a difficult day. It was wonderful to see so many old friends, to meet new ones and thanks for the photos and stories about Ali you shared with us.
As a family we have been touched by all the love and support that’s been shown and for the hundreds of letters, cards, emails, texts, phone calls and visits and we do hope that will continue. Ali’s blog has drawn people together, reunited old friends and inspired many and we thank you for the wonderful comments and are proud that others too recognised his worth and loved him as we did.
Ali was a true STAR and in order to keep his memory alive we are planning some big fund raising events for 2009. Please watch out for information about ‘Ski for a STAR’ and ‘Cycle for a STAR’ which we hope will be challenging, memorable and FUN in true Ali Rainback style!!
Many of you promised to raise money in Ali’s name and we do hope that you’ll post your ideas and dates on the Blog so we can support your efforts great or small. Let’s try to keep those promises and raise as much as possible to enable us to help others through tough times as Ali would have done. We would love to keep in touch so please send your contact details to:
Alistair.rainback@skinewgen.com
With happy memories, heartfelt thanks, hope for the future and all our love
Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo, Jeanette, Charlie and Archie xxxxxx
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Thursday 26 June 2008
TOTAL CARE WHEN TIME IS PRECIOUS
Dear Friends
How that statement resonates with me!
Ali and Team Rainback certainly had that in abundance!
We were so lucky that Dr Ros Taylor was able to provide a bed for Ali in Hospice of St Francis when he needed it and enabled him to stay in that safe and comfortable environment for 7 weeks until the end of his life.
Not everyone is as fortunate as beds are not always available, and there is a shortage anyway, and that cannot be right. We should all be allowed access to a Hospice whether for pain relief, symptom control and respite care or to allow us to end our days with grace and dignity in a peaceful place.
Those of you who were able to visit HOSF will know what a special place it is. The beautiful buildings set in lovely gardens, the dedicated professionals giving such wonderful palliative treatment, the loving care from the nursing staff and the marvellous food from the chef all backed up by a huge number of volunteers all help to provide a calm sanctuary.
The Hospice of St Francis is an independent charity that provides free, specialist and professional support and care for people with terminal illness but will receive only 22 per cent of their running costs (£3.5 million) from the NHS leaving a massive amount to be raised annually.
We owe such a debt of gratitude to everyone at HOSF for everything so freely given that we have made the commitment to raise £100,000 in Ali’s name to open another bed.
To achieve that target we need you to give generously and fund raise energetically so that others too may benefit at a time when they most need it.
We thank you and hope that you will do all in your power to spread the word about the wonderful holistic care given in Hospices and in particular The Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
On line giving: http://www.justgiving.com/alirainback
Or please send donations to:
Hospice of St Francis
Spring Garden Lane
off Shootersway
Northchurch
Berkhamsted
Herts HP4 3GW and write Ali Rainback Fund on the back of the cheque
Thank you
Love
Team Rainback
How that statement resonates with me!
Ali and Team Rainback certainly had that in abundance!
We were so lucky that Dr Ros Taylor was able to provide a bed for Ali in Hospice of St Francis when he needed it and enabled him to stay in that safe and comfortable environment for 7 weeks until the end of his life.
Not everyone is as fortunate as beds are not always available, and there is a shortage anyway, and that cannot be right. We should all be allowed access to a Hospice whether for pain relief, symptom control and respite care or to allow us to end our days with grace and dignity in a peaceful place.
Those of you who were able to visit HOSF will know what a special place it is. The beautiful buildings set in lovely gardens, the dedicated professionals giving such wonderful palliative treatment, the loving care from the nursing staff and the marvellous food from the chef all backed up by a huge number of volunteers all help to provide a calm sanctuary.
The Hospice of St Francis is an independent charity that provides free, specialist and professional support and care for people with terminal illness but will receive only 22 per cent of their running costs (£3.5 million) from the NHS leaving a massive amount to be raised annually.
We owe such a debt of gratitude to everyone at HOSF for everything so freely given that we have made the commitment to raise £100,000 in Ali’s name to open another bed.
To achieve that target we need you to give generously and fund raise energetically so that others too may benefit at a time when they most need it.
We thank you and hope that you will do all in your power to spread the word about the wonderful holistic care given in Hospices and in particular The Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
On line giving: http://www.justgiving.com/alirainback
Or please send donations to:
Hospice of St Francis
Spring Garden Lane
off Shootersway
Northchurch
Berkhamsted
Herts HP4 3GW and write Ali Rainback Fund on the back of the cheque
Thank you
Love
Team Rainback
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Wednesday Evening
Dear Friends
The Funeral Service for Ali will take place in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Kimpton Hertfordshire, SG4 8RR, on Friday 4th July at 2.45pm and afterwards at Kimpton Memorial Hall, SG4 8RD.
Family flowers only but donations gladly accepted for Hospice of St Francis. Details for online giving to follow shortly.
Dress code is no black tie.
All are welcome.
Love
Team Rainback
The Funeral Service for Ali will take place in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Kimpton Hertfordshire, SG4 8RR, on Friday 4th July at 2.45pm and afterwards at Kimpton Memorial Hall, SG4 8RD.
Family flowers only but donations gladly accepted for Hospice of St Francis. Details for online giving to follow shortly.
Dress code is no black tie.
All are welcome.
Love
Team Rainback
Tuesday 24 June 2008
Tuesday
Dear Friends,
How can we honour our wonderful Ali? How can we know him better?
His passion for life, adventure and ability to touch everyone around him has given us so many precious moments.
We all have a special time that we hold close to our hearts, a tale to tell that we will recall to him with tears and laughter next time we meet.
We would love to share those treasured memories of Ali, your ‘standing on London Bridge in your boxer shorts’ moments! Please print and send us that photo with a short explanation so that we can create a memory board for us all to enjoy.
Love
Jo and Team Rainback
Please send by 2 July to:
Team Rainback
c/o The Post Office
5 Station Road
Wheathampstead
Herts AL4 8BU
How can we honour our wonderful Ali? How can we know him better?
His passion for life, adventure and ability to touch everyone around him has given us so many precious moments.
We all have a special time that we hold close to our hearts, a tale to tell that we will recall to him with tears and laughter next time we meet.
We would love to share those treasured memories of Ali, your ‘standing on London Bridge in your boxer shorts’ moments! Please print and send us that photo with a short explanation so that we can create a memory board for us all to enjoy.
Love
Jo and Team Rainback
Please send by 2 July to:
Team Rainback
c/o The Post Office
5 Station Road
Wheathampstead
Herts AL4 8BU
Monday 23 June 2008
Monday
Dear Friends
It is with great sadness that we have to tell you that Ali passed away last night on Sunday 22 June at 10.35pm
It was very calm and peaceful and those of us who loved him so dearly were by his side constantly and supported him to the end as he would have wished.
We now have to make all the necessary arrangements and will announce our plans as soon as we can.
Sleep tight Ali and God Bless.
With Lots of Love
Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo and Jeanette – Team Rainback.xx
It is with great sadness that we have to tell you that Ali passed away last night on Sunday 22 June at 10.35pm
It was very calm and peaceful and those of us who loved him so dearly were by his side constantly and supported him to the end as he would have wished.
We now have to make all the necessary arrangements and will announce our plans as soon as we can.
Sleep tight Ali and God Bless.
With Lots of Love
Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo and Jeanette – Team Rainback.xx
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