"I feel like I'm about to have another breakdown, I'm so depressed and stressed and helpless and angry." Gem, 21.
Events
Get Connected benefits from various events; some we organise ourselves and some public events. Below are the main events in our calendar, for which we're always looking for participants, sponsors and donors of gift in kind. If you'd like to get involved with any of them, just email the fundraising department, or call the office on 020 7009 2500.
Auction
Our main event is the Get Connected-Carphone Warehouse auction, held in Central London and enjoying support from the mobile phone industry as well as companies such as Freud Communications, Hallo Magazine and The Royal Bank of Scotland. With items such as five star holidays, catered dinner parties and the opportunity to record your own love song, the auction always contributes significantly to Get Connected's unrestricted funding. 2008's event, which included an online auction of the Big Brother Diary Room chair, raised £208,000.
Andrew Harrison, UK CEO of The Carphone Warehouse, bids at the 2008 auction.
Get Comedy
Get Comedy is a stand-up comedy event conceived for Get Connected by ex-volunteer Helpline Worker Steven Ball. Initially a small event in the upstairs of an Islington pub, it was so popular that we're taking it to a bigger venue this October - The Comedy Store in Covent Garden. Watch this space for more details.
On the right is Spencer Brown performing at an early Get Comedy. We've also laughed at Simon Happily, Jo Caulfield, Paul Foot, Alistair Barrie and Adam Crow. Only when they were on stage, of course.
Sponsored events
Get Connected supporters also raise money through sponsored events such as the London 10k, the Royal Parks Half-Marathon and, earlier this year, Get Connected's first London Marathon places. It's not all running though - people are skydiving, cycling and completing tough overseas challenges in aid of Get Connected. Some of them have joined an official event, some have invented their own challenge. If you'd like to raise money for Get Connected and want to know what opportunities we've got available at the moment, email the fundraising department.