Jack Joseph wins the Harry Mills Fair Play Trophy

Congratulations to Jack Joseph who won the Harry Mills Fair Play Trophy at Spinfield School in July 2008. This is an award made each year in memory of Harry who was pupil at Spinfield.

Zoe Overall Keeps Her Promise for Harry

Zoe Overall and freinds from Cookham have raised more than £400 for Meningitis Research on a sponsored horse ride. Zoe made a promise to Richard Harry's Dad to organise the ride and has done just that. They had planned to ride in Windsor Great Park but were told the night before it had to be cancelled due to water logging. Undeterred Mum and Dad re-arranged the ride around Knowl Hill following (on foot) to ensure the safety of the riders.

BUPA 10km Run Hyde Park 20th July 2008 Run 4 Harry

Jenny (Harry’s sister), Nick Williams, Jessica Denton, Abbie Smith, Ben Inglis, Vicky Tippell, Mike Greene, Dominic Meadows, Vinh Trung Tieu & friend, and Kieran Prince competed in the Bupa 10km race at Hyde Park to raise funds for Meningitis. All finished the race, some despite never having run such a distance, and times ranged from 45 minutes to 1 hour 30minutes.

Sharon Fox runs the Wycombe Half Marathon for Harry – July 2008

On Sunday 20th July, Sharon Fox, one of the team of John Hampden Grammar School cleaners, ran the Wycombe Half Marathon to raise funds for Meningitis Research. She said she was determined to do it for Harry and was delighted with her time of 2hrs 20mins. Her support was particularly poignant as she herself lost her 13 year old son, Daniel, in an accident in 2006

See Sharon in the Bucks Free Press

Mike O’Reilly (Tom’s dad) Run for Team Harry

Mike O'Reilly comments:-

"My three sons all play rugby at Marlow RFC; on 26 April 2007 Harry Mills - a fellow youth rugby player - died of meningitis within 24 hours of contracting the disease. Meningitis was also responsible for the death of Nick Duncombe - potentially the best England scrum half of his generation - in February 2003.

Harry's parents have set up 'Team Harry' to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation to help to find the causes of the disease. I will be competing in the London Triathlon on 10th August 2008 as part of Team Mazda (pictured - Mike second from right back row) but mainly for Team Harry and the Meningitis Research Foundation. I would be very grateful for your support. Please annotate any DONATION with 'Team Harry'. Thank You."

Harry's Box at The Guinness Premiership Cup Final

The RFU donated a Box at the Guinness Premiership Cup Final to raise funds for Harry. The Box including 10 tickets and a buffet was bought by Paula Weaver of JTM Property Developers based in Lincoln.

This was a wonderful gesture by the RFU and thanks to Paula for her generous donation of £2,350 - proceeds to Harry's fund at the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Thanks also to Blackie of the RFU for thinking of Harry.

Joshua Lambert Cycles From Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower

Josh is cycling from Big Ben (London) to the Eiffel Tower (Paris), which is about 300 miles and will take 4 days!!! He would be grateful for any supporting sponsors , which will be donated to the MENINGITIS RESEARCH FOUNDATION. The epic journey begins on 24th May and the route is.....

Day 1 60 miles Big Ben, London through the scenic South Downs (Sussex) and the historic town of Lewes, before getting the ferry at Newhaven to Dieppe, France.

Day 2 90 miles leave Dieppe and cycle through Saane valley, cross the mouth of River Seine, arrive in Lisieux

Day3 70 miles leave Lisieux and cycle along the bank of the River Risle, arrive at Vernon

Day 4 65 miles the final leg! leave Vernon follow the river Seine to Paris!!!!!!

Please sponsor Josh here.

A Butterfly Garden in Memory of Harry

A £25 million Butterfly dome to be built in Hertfordshire and completed in spring 2009 will include a garden in memory of Harry.

Butterfly World Trust is a new conservation charity with an urgent mission to:

• raise awareness of the threats to the world’s butterfly and moth population
  
• educate the public about the conservation of all wild flora and fauna
  
• preserve the natural environment for the benefit of the public and the rest of the natural world.
  
• fund research into the natural environment – especially butterflies and moths - and publish the results.

The first aim is to create butterfly world – the world’s biggest and most exciting butterfly attraction, designed to bring the public into direct contact with some of the most fragile and beautiful wildlife the world has to offer, and send out a clarion call on behalf of this endangered treasure.

Harry's garden is being designed by the renowned Fern Alder and will also include a hedgehog sanctuary to protect and treat injured hedgehogs.

On the day Harry died, we opened our front door to see a hedgehog sat in the middle of our porch staring at us. We’ve never seen this before or since, so to include hedgehogs in the garden is a wonderful thought.

The garden will raise funds for charities.

Dan Edwards Marathon Man

Dan Edwards Director of Sport at John Hampden Grammar school, Harry's Sports Master has raised in excess of £700 for The Child Bereavement Centre and Wellchild Foundation. Dan ran the London Marathon in 4hr 15min wearing a pair of luminous yellow shoes which raised an extra £100 pounds.

Dan says "Harry Mills one of the most talented students I have ever had the pleasure to teach - Harry was definitely a help from mile 20 - 25 as I could just hear him taking the mickey out of the fact he could walk faster than I was running!"

This is Dan's third and LAST Marathon??

If anyone would still like to donate Dan's fundraising page is at .. www.justgiving.com/danieledwards2008

Fraser Duncans's Testimonial Raises £600 for Harry

Fraser Duncan Marlow 1st Team Captain has supported many events for Harry and he and the team wore Harry's socks during recent 1st Team games. Fraser's Testimonial was held on the 26th April - after 25 years playing rugby at Marlow Fraser is hanging his boots up at the end of the season. A game was held between the Fraser Select XV and the Marlow All Stars XV, with lots of old faces coming back to the club to play one last game with Fraser. Wayne Barnes (the International referee that upset all those Kiwi’s in the World Cup ¼ Final) refereed the game. Heston Blumenthal kicked off the first ball.

Ewan Jones who organised the day kindly arranged to collect money for the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of Harry - the day being the anniversary of Harry's death. £600 pounds was raised - many thanks to all who donated and to Marlow Rugby Club.

11th May 2008 - The Marlow 5 : Renaissance Hair Salon Run for Harry

Jessica Denton (aged 21 & a family friend) and her fellow stylists at Renaissance Hair Salon in West Street, Marlow have run the Marlow5 for Harry - that's 5 miles and not 5km as Jess originally thought. The team consists of: Len (the Manager), Chris, Jag, Dev, Georgia, Jessica and freind of Jessica's s Zana. None had ever attempted this type of long distance running before. It was a hot day and the going was tough but they did it. They have collected over £2,200 in sponsorship and are still looking to build on this - if you would like to sponsor Jess & the Renaissance Team, please visit the salon in Marlow or click here.

Jessica remembers Harry in the Bucks Free Press.

T shirts were kindly donated by Richard at Allez UK

Holy Trinity Harriers and John Hampden Charity Match

On Saturday 26th April, Holy Trinity Harriers and John Hampden’s Year 8 football team played a football match in memory of Harry to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.Elli Goss Holy Trinity Harriers Coach said “Harry was an amazing sportsman, a great friend and a highly valued member of both of the above football teams so it seems fitting to play a match in his honour”Each boy taking part in the match was invited to make a £5.00 donation to the Meningitis Research Foundation. Other donations from parents/spectators were also received on the day. After the match there was a BBQ and the bar was open in the clubhouse. A total of over £400 was raised on the day.
Holy Trinity Harriers web site - click here
John Hampden Grammar School web site - click here

Marlow Mini Rugby Tournament 2008: The Harry Mills Memorial Cup

The 36th Annual Mini Rugby Tournament, the largest in the South of England, took place at Marlow RFC on Sunday 30th March. It was at this time last year that Harry played in his last Marlow tournament representing the u12s. It was a beautiful sunny day and over 2000 players from u7s to u12s and from 15 different clubs attended playing in leagues of 6 in both A and B competitions. The organisation was superb, the atmosphere wonderful, and some excellent rugby was played in a great spirit of friendly rivalry.Upon completion of the under 12s finals, guest of honour Phil Vickery, London Wasps star and England Captain, presented the winners, London Irish, with the Harry Mills Memorial Cup. It was a particularly poignant moment for one London Irish player as he himself had had meningitis as a 14 month old toddler. The cup was donated by Marlow Rugby Club as a tribute to Harry and will be played for every year. Richard then presented Phil Vickery with a pair of Harry’s socks which Phil promised to wear the next time he plays in a Barbarians team! Special thanks to Mike Simmonds of Marlow RFC for his involvement in organising the Cup and Phil Vickery as special guest. Thanks too to Rosie & Sophie who collected £191.63 on the day for Meningitis Research and to all the Marlow Minis, players, parents & coaches.




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The Maidenhead Advertiser article

The day's programme signed by Phil Vickery

Emma Shepherdson raises over £1,000 for Harry

Emma, mother to David, a friend of Harry’s from Spinfield School, is on a sponsored slim and has impressively succeeded in losing 3 stone for Harry and so far raising £1,075. This was a determined effort and Emma says “It's taken a long time, but I'm pleased I've finally reached my target and can start collecting for the Meningitis charity. It means a lot to me to do this in memory of Harry, who I will always remember for his adorable smile and endless enthusiasm which was infectious to everyone around him.I know that David (on the left next to Harry) will always treasure all the memories of his best friend. He still speaks of him every day. If you would like to support Emma, please email her at simon.shep@tiscali.co.uk

Wasps CoacHclass for Marlow Merlins, Triangular Fixture and Promotional Day

On Sunday 9th March, Drifters, Marlow and Wasps competed in a CoacHclass run by Wasps at the Royal Grammar School in memory of Harry. Afterwards all of the boys went to watch Wasps play Harlequins at Adams Park. A presentation of the cup was made to the winning team at the Wasps Harlequin game.