ABOUT THE FORGET-ME-NOT PROJECT:
The Forget-Me-Not Project was launched a few years ago by a keen theatre-goer as part of a fund-raising initiative for Bloodwise (formerly known as Leukaemia & Lymphona Research). It is dedicated to the memory of my sister, Sue Pope (nee Beaumont) who died of Acute Myleoid Leukaemia at the age of 30. You can read more about Sue's story and the background to The Forget-Me-Not Project here.
Among the many people who have participated so far are stars of stage & screen such as Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Ball, Robin Williams, Sarah Lancashire, Kiefer Sutherland, Alfie Boe, Stephen Fry, John Barrowman, Sir Ian Botham and many, many more.... The idea behind The Forget-Me-Not Project was originally inspired by a similar fundraising project centred around Broadway shows. Check out the How it works... page for more information.
To date The Forget-Me-Not Project has been able to pass over £11,000 to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (now known as Bloodwise). Please help to increase this amount during 2019 by publicising / participating in our regular auctions. Thanks!
Among the many people who have participated so far are stars of stage & screen such as Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Ball, Robin Williams, Sarah Lancashire, Kiefer Sutherland, Alfie Boe, Stephen Fry, John Barrowman, Sir Ian Botham and many, many more.... The idea behind The Forget-Me-Not Project was originally inspired by a similar fundraising project centred around Broadway shows. Check out the How it works... page for more information.
To date The Forget-Me-Not Project has been able to pass over £11,000 to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (now known as Bloodwise). Please help to increase this amount during 2019 by publicising / participating in our regular auctions. Thanks!
UPDATES:
1st August 2020
After a long six months where the whole world has had to stop and take stock, I'm delighted to get The Forget-Me-Not Project show back on the road. Next month I hope to hold an auction originally pencilled in for Easter 2020, featuring a range of Theatre & Strictly Come Dancing goodies. In the meantime I have set myself an indoor cycling challenge during August: to ride my exercise bike the equivalent distance between my home and the West End - 195 miles. To inspire me along the way I will be watching a different musical every day (no hardship for someone desparately missing live theatre)! Sponsors are very welcome and full details can be found here: #WestCountrytoWestEnd Cycling Challenge.
Any money raised will be split between Blood Cancer UK and a fund created in memory of a dear friend, Gina Farasciano. Gina & I met at a Broadway show in 2007. We quickly hit it off and over the years visited many more shows together. Last year we even got to meet up in her grandparents birthplace of Sicily. It was a wonderful trip, Gina's first time in Italy, and we hoped to be able to return to see more of the country. Sadly it was not to be. In October Gina was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She broke the news to me in the New Year and I arranged to visit her in February. Our last Broadway show together was the wonderful Moulin Rouge. Gina fought with all of her indomitable spirit to beat this blasted disease but it finally got the better of her on 30th April. I still can't quite believe it, but I want to do what I can to honour her life. She was a much-loved performer & participant in her local theatre scene in Port Washington, Long Island, and a grant has been set up in her memory - The Gina Farasciano Community Theater Fund. I can think of no more fitting tribute than to support something she cared about so passionately.
5th February 2020
The New Year kicked off in great style with all proceeds from the Christmas auction being passed to Bloodwise, bringing the total amount donated via The Forget-Me-Not Project to over £12,000!!! Thank you so much to every single person who has bid, bought, publicised or participated in fundraising activities over the years; my gratitude to you all is endless. Today would have been my wonderful sister's birthday and I know Sue would greatly appreciate everyone's efforts too.
Look out for another auction coming soon. Among the items on offer will be a signed brochure from the 2020 Strictly Tour, some highly-collectible theatre memorabilia and at least a dozen new flower photo/autograph sets. In the meantime I have a 90th birthday party to arrange, a visit to spend time with a poorly friend in New York and several more shows lined up, so a busy year all round....
5th December 2019
CHRISTMAS AUCTION ALERT! Between 5th-15th December I will be auctioning off a further 40+ highly-collectible items which would make perfect stocking-fillers / presents for friends & family. Keep checking the Current Auctions page for updates and links. As well as unique photo & autograph sets look out for signed books, CDs and programmes.
Last month the total sum passed to Bloodwise from September's auction reached a very lucky £777, which included a generous donation from the company of Olivier Award-winning musical 'Come From Away'. Thank you so much to them and to all who have supported The Forget-Me-Not Project over the years.
31st August 2019
COMPETITION TIME! To be in with a chance of winning a Strictly Come Dancing goody bag (pictured above), simply share the link to the Current Forget-Me-Not-Project Auctions via Twitter or Facebook before 8.00pm GMT on Sunday 8th September. All shares / retweets will ensure entry into a prize draw to win a Strictly Come Dancing tote bag, a VIP lanyard, a silver 10 paddle and a full-colour 46 page brochure from this year's Strictly: The Professionals tour which has been signed on the front cover by popular professional dancer GORKA MARQUEZ.
29th August 2019
And we're off! No fewer than 66 fab-u-lous auction items become available to bid on this evening in the bumper Forget-Me-Not-Project Summer Auction. Featuring a host of Strictly stars the listings also include photos and/or autographs including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Orlando Bloom, Sally Field, Danny Dyer, Stacey Dooley, Joe Lycett, Billy Porter, Will Young, Bryan Cranston, Patti LuPone, Hugh Jackman, Samantha Barks and many, many more....! Check out the Current Auctions Page for full details and look out for further announcements in the near future. And remember: 100% of proceeds will go to support the fantastic work of Bloodwise, the UK's leading blood cancer charity, so Keeeeeeep Bidding!
8th August 2019
I'm excited to announce that the next Forget-Me-Not Project online auction will run between 29th August - 8th September inclusive. The 50+ listings will include loads of unique photos, autographs, signed programmes, books and other memorabilia. This month marks the 20th anniversary of the loss of my beautiful sister, Sue, so I would love to raise a tidy sum in her memory, to support the sterling work of Bloodwise and to give hope to all other families who will benefit from the research they undertake.
20th May 2019
Plans are coming together for a grand Summer Auction in August featuring stars of stage, screen & dance floor, many of whom can be seen in the Strictly-themed collage above. The online auction will also feature some highly-collectible theatre memorabilia and one or two surprises. Sadly I was unable to run last month's intended interim auction due to family illness, but rest assured that every single item I have collected on Broadway, in the West End and at a number of regional venues since last December will be up for grabs in the summer.
On a personal note, I'd like to say a big thank you to every single celebrity who has taken the time to pose for a 'flower photo' or sign an autograph for The Forget-Me-Not Project recently. Not only have they contributed to a cause very close to my heart, but they have entertained me royally over the past six months. In among the trials & tribulations of dealing with hospital appointments, stays, consultations, tests etc. that enjoyment has been priceless in keeping me sane & smiling!
5th March 2019
Two months into the new year and, Strictly speaking, the Forget-Me-Not Project has a spring in its step...! I've been fortunate enough to meet several of the stars of Strictly Come Dancing at various shows this year, and many of them have generously provided photos & autographs which will be included in a bumper Summer Auction starting in early August. In the meantime I'm hoping to hold an interim auction in April featuring some exciting items gathered from last year's trip to Broadway. More to follow!
31st December 2018
Going into 2019 I'd like to wish everyone the happiest & healthiest of New Years. The recent Forget-Me-Not Project Christmas Auction raised a further £350+ for Bloodwise and plans are in place for a follow-up auction in the next couple of months. I was absolutely delighted to be able collect several more autographs & photos in December (including Bryan Cranston, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Urie, Tate Donovan & Mercedes Ruehl) and hope to add more big names to the upcoming auction in the next few weeks...
It's hard to believe that 2019 marks my sister's 20th anniversary, but I am inspired to keep raising money in her memory for all those still involved in the battle against blood cancer. Thank you for your interest in / support of The Forget-Me-Not Project.
29th November 2018
GOING LIVE! 48 Christmas Auction listings begin today and will run through until Sunday 9th December, so for the chance to get hold of some unique / rare / highly collectible Christmas presents, why not get browsing and bidding? To see all of the items on offer check out the Current Auctions page or click HERE - and don't forget all proceeds go to support the sterling work of the UK's foremost blood cancer charity Bloodwise.
22nd November 2018
With one week to go to the next Forget-Me-Not Project Auction, listings are currently being finalised and items are being added to the Current Auctions page daily. Among the autographs on offer are stars of stage, screen, music studio & dance floor such as Hugh Jackman, Sally Field, Jake Gyllenhaal, Orlando Bloom, Gary Barlow, Sian Gibson, Matt Cardle, Allison Janney, Laura Main, Eric Idle, Lea Salonga, Graham Norton, Oti Mabuse, Alfie Boe, Joe Lycett, Dame Eileen Atkins, Ben Fogle, Jenny McAlpine, Ian Waite and many more.... There are over 30 listings with all profits going to the brilliant Bloodwise charity. Please share & bid!
4th October 2018 - rescheduled Auction dates
My apologies that (due to a change in my personal circumstances) it wasn't possible to schedule an auction in the summer as planned. HOWEVER, I am delighted to announce that all of the items I have collected this year - and a few more - will be available to bid on between 29th November-9th December. More details to follow - watch this space....!
18th April 2018 - News of Summer Auction
It's already half past April and plans are afoot for the next Forget-Me-Not Project Auction which will take place in the summer. I hope to have some fantastic & unique auction items on offer so please keep checking back for updates. In addition to the forthcoming auction I also recently took on the Cancer Research 'Walk All Over Cancer' challenge and managed to walk over 10,000 steps / 4 miles every day in March (despite the occasional snow days - thank goodness for home stepping equipment)! £275 + Gift Aid has been raised so far and the Fundraising Page is still open if anyone would like to help boost this figure further: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/fiona-walks-all-over-cancer-25
31st December 2017 - Happy New Year!
I am delighted to say that the recent Christmas Auction has raised over £750 for Bloodwise which I will be passing on to the charity in the New Year. Huge thanks to all those who participated and also to all supporters of The Forget-Me-Not Project. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018. Here's to an exciting year filled with more fun and fundraising!
12th December 2017 - Happy Christmas (bidding)!
After an unforeseen period of inactivity due to major family/work commitments I'm delighted to say that The Forget-Me-Not Project is back with a special Christmas Auction running between 12th-19th December.
The 37 auction listings include many items gathered during 2017 including signed Broadway Playbills, West End Theatre Programmes, unique photo/autograph sets and customised collectibles featuring famous names such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Bette Midler, Sally Field, Glenn Close, Mark Ruffalo, Patti LuPone, Allison Janney, Lea Salonga & many more!
Visit the Current Auctions page for further details and links to each listing. Happy Christmas and happy bidding!
17th July 2017
As of today the amount donated to Bloodwise via The Forget--Me-Not Project has officially passed the £10,000 mark! I am thrilled and would like to say a huge thank you to all supporters and participants for your generosity of time, money & spirit.
Plans for the forthcoming Summer Auction are in full swing and more details will be announced next month. Among the items included are a photo and autograph set featuring Mr Peter Kay (which was an absolute joy to obtain), lots of signed Playbills and programmes and hopefully a few surprises.
This month marks my 50th birthday while August sees Sue's 18th anniversary; I couldnt wish for a better commemoration than to take the amount raised well into 5 figures. Please check back for updates and help to help the wonderful work of Bloodwise!
24th May 2017: a special auction, the year so far and the shape of things to come.
Today I'm delighted to announce a one-off Forget-Me-Not Project auction for two tickets to a special Q&A with Peter Kay, Britain's favourite comedian and star of Phoenix Nights and Car Share, which takes place in Blackpool on Sunday 4th June. The seats are just 12 rows from the stage - a must for any Peter Kay fan! In this special event at the Blackpool Opera House the multi award-winning funny man will be discussing his phenomenal career in comedy and sharing some exclusive clips and outtakes from his most popular shows. The auction runs until Wednesday 31st May - you can place your bids HERE.
Plans are also taking shape for further fundraising in the summer, including a bumper auction, an event in Torquay, a raffle and more sponsored activities - watch this space!
In March I was able to raise just shy of £500 for Cancer Research by walking a minimum of 4 miles every single day in their 'March Against Cancer' Challenge. Thank you to all the generous folks who sponsored me!
April saw a flying visit to New York to see the divine Miss Bette Midler in the sublime 'Hello, Dolly!' While there I was able to set about gathering some fantastic signed theatre memorabilia, including Playbills signed by Bette Midler herself, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sally Field, Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Mark Ruffalo and many more - look out for them in the forthcoming Summer Auction.
I hope there will be much more on offer in the coming months, so keep checking back and don't forget to follow the Forget-Me-Not Project on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for supporting this little labour of love and helping Bloodwise to achieve big things in the fight against blood cancer.
5th February 2017: thoughts on Forget-Me-Not Project past, present & future
Today would have been my sister's 48th birthday. It's also 17 years & 6 months since she lost her short battle against leukaemia. Fittingly I spent most of the day with family and some time reviewing my ongoing fundraising efforts. Just before Christmas the Forget-Me-Not Project donated a further £500 to Bloodwise and, even though it was slightly disappointing not to hit the £10k mark, onwards & upwards! I hope to find a new online auction platform this year in order to continue offering unique photos, autograph cards and memorabilia for sale. But in the meantime:
2017 marks 2 personal milestones for me: as well as being the 18th anniversary of Sue's death, it's my 50th birthday this summer. So I'm looking to mark both these occasions by getting fitter and by raising a ton of money for various cancer charities. Please sponsor me in my first challenge here: My March Against Cancer.
Also - if you get the chance - please go and see 'The Girls, the fantastic new musical written by Gary Barlow & Tim Firth based on the inspirational true story of 'The Calendar Girls' who have raised millions in the ongoing battle against leukaemia & other cancers. A brilliant cast, a brilliant cause and one of the funniest, most uplifting and feelgood musicals you could hope to see. Having seen it twice in previews I can't wait to go again. And it's raising tons of money and awareness, so what's not to love!??
20th November 2016
And we're off! 50+ listings in aid of Bloodwise go live tonight: celebrity photo/autograph sets and dozens of signed items including playbills, programmes, posters, CD's and scripts. 100% of proceeds will be passed to the UK's leading leukaemia research charity. Please bid generously!
13th November 2016
Plans are finally afoot and the 2016 Forget-Me-Not Project Christmas Auction will launch on Sunday 20th November! Check out the Current Auctions page for a preview of the 50+ listings which include items featuring a host of West End, Broadway, Film & TV stars. To allow items to be posted in good time for Christmas, the Auction will end on Sunday 27th November so why not treat someone to a unique Xmas gift and give others the gift of life via the wonderful work undertaken by Bloodwise?
30th October 2016
After a long hiatus (due to moving house) The Forget-Me-Not Project will soon be back with a Christmas auction featuring many items and autographs collected this year. Among them are some of the biggest names on Broadway, lots and lots of signed Playbills, two items sure to be of interest X-Files fans and a rare (possibly unique) souvenir of a grand season of theatre which ran between 2012-2014. Watch this space for more details...
1st April 2016
That was the week that was! A few days ago I was able to pass the grand total of £1210.41 over to Bloodwise, all thanks to the generous bidders & buyers in the latest Forget-Me-Not Project auction. This means that - with your help - the Forget-Me-Not Project should be able to reach the memorable £10,000 mark this year, something I hope to achieve sooner rather than later. For starters, why not check out the current '2nd chance' auction where you can bid on 18 recent items which are still to find their 'forever homes'?! Visit the Current Auctions page for further details - but be quick; the listings end on 6th April.
18th March 2016
Thirty auction listings are now live and open for bidding - you can check them out on the Current Auctions page. Among the items are photos, autographs and an amazing VIP experience featuring stars of two of my favourite television programmes: Call the Midwife and The X Files. As always, 100% of proceeds from the auction will go to help Bloodwise in their ongoing battle to beat blood cancer. So why not treat yourself or a loved one to a unique gift and contribute to a fantastic cause to boot? Happy browsing/bidding!
11th March 2016
The date is set! The first Forget-Me-Not Project of 2016 will run between Thursday 17th March to Sunday 27th March and will feature a host of theatre, television and film stars including James Corden, David Suchet, Sheridan Smith, Tom Chambers, Julia McKenzie, James Earl Jones, Celia Imrie, Hugo Speer, Richard O'Brien, Jim Broadbent, Shane Richie, Emerald Fennell, Sheila Hancock and many more... Plus look out for a fantastic auction item featuring 'The X-Files' star David Duchovny.
28th January 2016
Welcome / welcome back to the Forget-Me-Not Project homepage! Unfortunately it's been a little while since my last auction but I hope to rectify that matter in the next few weeks, and to get the New Year off to a flying start. 2015 turned out to be a very challenging year for me both personally and professionally but, in the immortal words of D:REAM: 'Things Can Only Get Better'. So 'onwards & upwards' and other assorted clichés...!
The year has started promisingly and I hope to include autographs and memorabilia featuring (amongst others) Jim Broadbent, Simon Russell Beale, Emerald Fennell, Sheridan Smith & Darius Campbell in the next auction. Stay tuned for details of where/what/when/how! In the meantime why not head over to the brand new Bloodwise website and check out all the exciting things which the charity has been involved in since its re-launch in September...?
15th May 2015
A quick update on the Forget-Me-Not Project so far this year: after the last auction a further £400 was passed to Leukaemia Research (an amount which I hope to double via a matched giving scheme). Things remain quiet on the theatre-going front - save for one glorious evening watching Emma Thompson & Bryn Terfel perform in the ENO's Sweeney Todd at the Coliseum - but I hope that normal service will be resumed as soon as my job search bears fruit. September 2015 will bring Blood Cancer Awareness month and the launch of a major campaign by LLRF, as was revealed at April's Impact Day. It was a day full of passionate advocacy, inspiring success stories and exciting developments which make me more determined than ever to carry on until blood cancer is finally beaten. Please help me do this by supporting The Forget-Me-Not Project via auctions and offline sales.
18th March 2015
The first Forget-Me-Not Project auction of 2015 begins tomorrow, featuring stars and memorabilia from my 3 most recently-seen shows: Forbidden Broadway, Assassins & City of Angels. Among the West End and Broadway stars who have contributed autographs and/or photographs are Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Catherine Tate, Jamie Parker, Peter Polycarpou, Hadley Fraser, Rosalie Craig, Tam Mutu, Simon Lipkin and Christina Bianco. Check out the Current Auctions page between 19th-29th March for links to all listings.
March 2015 - All Quiet on the West End Front
Nine weeks into the New Year (and only one West End trip so far!) but I'm happy to confirm that the first Forget-me-Not Project auction of 2015 will take place between 19th-29th March - watch this space for further details. I'm also looking forward to my 2nd theatre trip of the year in April, taking in the ENO's production of 'Sweeney Todd' and the West End transfer of the Young Vic's 'A View from the Bridge'. A further treat in April: my first visit to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's Impact Day where I hope to meet and connect with fellow fundraisers, volunteers, researchers and advocates.
On a personal note, 2015 will see some major life changes for me, including redundancy from my (much-loved) job of 17 years. The year so far has been chock-full of travelling, training successors, replacing a bathroom & a kitchen, redecorating, re-writing my CV, searching for a new job and planning my financial future... among other things! When all the dust has settled I hope to resume regular auctions and introduce some exciting new fundraising ideas into The Forget-Me-Not Project... In the meantime thank you for bearing with!
Christmas Eve 2014
Wishing a very Happy Christmas to all my friends & followers. Thank you for your continued support in helping to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. 2014 has been The Forget-Me-Not Project's best year yet, with over £1500 raised in the last auction alone. I'm eager to build on this in 2015 (a year which promises some major challenges for me personally). May it bring health and happiness to all... Fiona x
Wednesday 26th November 2014
With just 4 days left to run in the Christmas Auction bidding is hotting up and The Forget-Me-Not Project is on course for its best-ever total. Huge thanks to all who have participated and publicised so far, especially Andy Jackson at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Andy has kindly allowed me to write a blog page for the charity's website which you can view here. There are still plenty of items up for grabs, so if you fancy getting hold of a unique gift and helping a worthwhile cause into the bargain then why not visit our Current Auctions page...?
And don't forget: all Forget-Me-Not celebrity flower photos can be purchased as reprints. Simply visit the Buy/Donate page for more information.
Thursday 20th November 2014
Today's the day! Over 100 Christmas Auction listings will begin to go live from 2pm GMT. The auction runs through to Sunday 30th November and features an array of photos, books, programmes, playbills and other signed items which would make great gifts - or why not treat yourself?? Please help to support the vital work of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research by sharing this link with friends, family and fellow fans... Many Thanks & Happy Bidding!
Thursday 2nd October 2014
The Forget-Me-Not Project celebrates its 3rd birthday this week, and what better way to mark the occasion than by passing the fantastic sum of £620 on to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research? That was the amount raised in the auction which began on 18th September and, in case you haven't yet bid, the good news is that all of the unsold items are still available in a 2nd chance auction. Take a look and grab it before it's gone! And don't forget, lots more fantastic items will be on offer in our bumper Christmas auction starting on 20th November. Watch this space for details...
Thursday 18th September 2014
Tonight's the night when 50 auction listings go live, featuring funny people such as Steve Coogan, Rufus Hound & Victoria Wood and fine actors such as Richard Armitage, John Lithgow & Mercedes Ruehl. Even as this auction gets underway plans are well in-hand for a bumper Christmas auction which will feature many highly-collectable items of signed-memorabilia along with several more unique flower photo/autograph sets. Look out for a Memorabilia page to be added to the site soon, showcasing all the signed items - sold & unsold - which have been collected for The Forget-Me-Not Project over the years. Many will feature in the bumper Christmas auction which is scheduled to start on 20th November.
Tuesday 16th September 2014
WELCOME to the new-look Forget-Me-Not Project website which is being launched in conjunction with our latest auction. Please use the menu above to navigate around the site. If you would like to go straight to our current listings please click HERE. September's auction runs from Thursday 18th until Sunday 28th and is dedicated to the memory of the late, great Robin Williams.
Monday 25th August 2014
The next auction will begin on Thursday 18th September and will run for 10 days. In honour of the late, great Robin Williams the auction will feature a host of comedians and comic actors as well as 3 of his former co-stars (John Lithgow from 'The World According to Garp', Mercedes Ruehl of 'The Fisher King' and Robert Sean Leonard of 'Dead Poets Society). By popular demand I will also be including a programme from the acclaimed Old Vic production of 'The Crucible' which has been signed by the entire cast including lead actor, Richard Armitage.
Sunday 3rd August 2014
Provisonal start dates for the next two auctions have been set for 18th September & 20th November. In the meantime, new photos and items of memorabilia are being collected and work is underway on improving the look and layout of the website. If you would like to make any suggestions, offer assistance or learn more about The Forget-Me-Not Project please don't hesitate to contact me via forget-me-not-project@hotmail.co.uk
Fiona Beaumont
1st August 2020
After a long six months where the whole world has had to stop and take stock, I'm delighted to get The Forget-Me-Not Project show back on the road. Next month I hope to hold an auction originally pencilled in for Easter 2020, featuring a range of Theatre & Strictly Come Dancing goodies. In the meantime I have set myself an indoor cycling challenge during August: to ride my exercise bike the equivalent distance between my home and the West End - 195 miles. To inspire me along the way I will be watching a different musical every day (no hardship for someone desparately missing live theatre)! Sponsors are very welcome and full details can be found here: #WestCountrytoWestEnd Cycling Challenge.
Any money raised will be split between Blood Cancer UK and a fund created in memory of a dear friend, Gina Farasciano. Gina & I met at a Broadway show in 2007. We quickly hit it off and over the years visited many more shows together. Last year we even got to meet up in her grandparents birthplace of Sicily. It was a wonderful trip, Gina's first time in Italy, and we hoped to be able to return to see more of the country. Sadly it was not to be. In October Gina was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She broke the news to me in the New Year and I arranged to visit her in February. Our last Broadway show together was the wonderful Moulin Rouge. Gina fought with all of her indomitable spirit to beat this blasted disease but it finally got the better of her on 30th April. I still can't quite believe it, but I want to do what I can to honour her life. She was a much-loved performer & participant in her local theatre scene in Port Washington, Long Island, and a grant has been set up in her memory - The Gina Farasciano Community Theater Fund. I can think of no more fitting tribute than to support something she cared about so passionately.
5th February 2020
The New Year kicked off in great style with all proceeds from the Christmas auction being passed to Bloodwise, bringing the total amount donated via The Forget-Me-Not Project to over £12,000!!! Thank you so much to every single person who has bid, bought, publicised or participated in fundraising activities over the years; my gratitude to you all is endless. Today would have been my wonderful sister's birthday and I know Sue would greatly appreciate everyone's efforts too.
Look out for another auction coming soon. Among the items on offer will be a signed brochure from the 2020 Strictly Tour, some highly-collectible theatre memorabilia and at least a dozen new flower photo/autograph sets. In the meantime I have a 90th birthday party to arrange, a visit to spend time with a poorly friend in New York and several more shows lined up, so a busy year all round....
5th December 2019
CHRISTMAS AUCTION ALERT! Between 5th-15th December I will be auctioning off a further 40+ highly-collectible items which would make perfect stocking-fillers / presents for friends & family. Keep checking the Current Auctions page for updates and links. As well as unique photo & autograph sets look out for signed books, CDs and programmes.
Last month the total sum passed to Bloodwise from September's auction reached a very lucky £777, which included a generous donation from the company of Olivier Award-winning musical 'Come From Away'. Thank you so much to them and to all who have supported The Forget-Me-Not Project over the years.
31st August 2019
COMPETITION TIME! To be in with a chance of winning a Strictly Come Dancing goody bag (pictured above), simply share the link to the Current Forget-Me-Not-Project Auctions via Twitter or Facebook before 8.00pm GMT on Sunday 8th September. All shares / retweets will ensure entry into a prize draw to win a Strictly Come Dancing tote bag, a VIP lanyard, a silver 10 paddle and a full-colour 46 page brochure from this year's Strictly: The Professionals tour which has been signed on the front cover by popular professional dancer GORKA MARQUEZ.
29th August 2019
And we're off! No fewer than 66 fab-u-lous auction items become available to bid on this evening in the bumper Forget-Me-Not-Project Summer Auction. Featuring a host of Strictly stars the listings also include photos and/or autographs including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Orlando Bloom, Sally Field, Danny Dyer, Stacey Dooley, Joe Lycett, Billy Porter, Will Young, Bryan Cranston, Patti LuPone, Hugh Jackman, Samantha Barks and many, many more....! Check out the Current Auctions Page for full details and look out for further announcements in the near future. And remember: 100% of proceeds will go to support the fantastic work of Bloodwise, the UK's leading blood cancer charity, so Keeeeeeep Bidding!
8th August 2019
I'm excited to announce that the next Forget-Me-Not Project online auction will run between 29th August - 8th September inclusive. The 50+ listings will include loads of unique photos, autographs, signed programmes, books and other memorabilia. This month marks the 20th anniversary of the loss of my beautiful sister, Sue, so I would love to raise a tidy sum in her memory, to support the sterling work of Bloodwise and to give hope to all other families who will benefit from the research they undertake.
20th May 2019
Plans are coming together for a grand Summer Auction in August featuring stars of stage, screen & dance floor, many of whom can be seen in the Strictly-themed collage above. The online auction will also feature some highly-collectible theatre memorabilia and one or two surprises. Sadly I was unable to run last month's intended interim auction due to family illness, but rest assured that every single item I have collected on Broadway, in the West End and at a number of regional venues since last December will be up for grabs in the summer.
On a personal note, I'd like to say a big thank you to every single celebrity who has taken the time to pose for a 'flower photo' or sign an autograph for The Forget-Me-Not Project recently. Not only have they contributed to a cause very close to my heart, but they have entertained me royally over the past six months. In among the trials & tribulations of dealing with hospital appointments, stays, consultations, tests etc. that enjoyment has been priceless in keeping me sane & smiling!
5th March 2019
Two months into the new year and, Strictly speaking, the Forget-Me-Not Project has a spring in its step...! I've been fortunate enough to meet several of the stars of Strictly Come Dancing at various shows this year, and many of them have generously provided photos & autographs which will be included in a bumper Summer Auction starting in early August. In the meantime I'm hoping to hold an interim auction in April featuring some exciting items gathered from last year's trip to Broadway. More to follow!
31st December 2018
Going into 2019 I'd like to wish everyone the happiest & healthiest of New Years. The recent Forget-Me-Not Project Christmas Auction raised a further £350+ for Bloodwise and plans are in place for a follow-up auction in the next couple of months. I was absolutely delighted to be able collect several more autographs & photos in December (including Bryan Cranston, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Urie, Tate Donovan & Mercedes Ruehl) and hope to add more big names to the upcoming auction in the next few weeks...
It's hard to believe that 2019 marks my sister's 20th anniversary, but I am inspired to keep raising money in her memory for all those still involved in the battle against blood cancer. Thank you for your interest in / support of The Forget-Me-Not Project.
29th November 2018
GOING LIVE! 48 Christmas Auction listings begin today and will run through until Sunday 9th December, so for the chance to get hold of some unique / rare / highly collectible Christmas presents, why not get browsing and bidding? To see all of the items on offer check out the Current Auctions page or click HERE - and don't forget all proceeds go to support the sterling work of the UK's foremost blood cancer charity Bloodwise.
22nd November 2018
With one week to go to the next Forget-Me-Not Project Auction, listings are currently being finalised and items are being added to the Current Auctions page daily. Among the autographs on offer are stars of stage, screen, music studio & dance floor such as Hugh Jackman, Sally Field, Jake Gyllenhaal, Orlando Bloom, Gary Barlow, Sian Gibson, Matt Cardle, Allison Janney, Laura Main, Eric Idle, Lea Salonga, Graham Norton, Oti Mabuse, Alfie Boe, Joe Lycett, Dame Eileen Atkins, Ben Fogle, Jenny McAlpine, Ian Waite and many more.... There are over 30 listings with all profits going to the brilliant Bloodwise charity. Please share & bid!
4th October 2018 - rescheduled Auction dates
My apologies that (due to a change in my personal circumstances) it wasn't possible to schedule an auction in the summer as planned. HOWEVER, I am delighted to announce that all of the items I have collected this year - and a few more - will be available to bid on between 29th November-9th December. More details to follow - watch this space....!
18th April 2018 - News of Summer Auction
It's already half past April and plans are afoot for the next Forget-Me-Not Project Auction which will take place in the summer. I hope to have some fantastic & unique auction items on offer so please keep checking back for updates. In addition to the forthcoming auction I also recently took on the Cancer Research 'Walk All Over Cancer' challenge and managed to walk over 10,000 steps / 4 miles every day in March (despite the occasional snow days - thank goodness for home stepping equipment)! £275 + Gift Aid has been raised so far and the Fundraising Page is still open if anyone would like to help boost this figure further: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/fiona-walks-all-over-cancer-25
31st December 2017 - Happy New Year!
I am delighted to say that the recent Christmas Auction has raised over £750 for Bloodwise which I will be passing on to the charity in the New Year. Huge thanks to all those who participated and also to all supporters of The Forget-Me-Not Project. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018. Here's to an exciting year filled with more fun and fundraising!
12th December 2017 - Happy Christmas (bidding)!
After an unforeseen period of inactivity due to major family/work commitments I'm delighted to say that The Forget-Me-Not Project is back with a special Christmas Auction running between 12th-19th December.
The 37 auction listings include many items gathered during 2017 including signed Broadway Playbills, West End Theatre Programmes, unique photo/autograph sets and customised collectibles featuring famous names such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Bette Midler, Sally Field, Glenn Close, Mark Ruffalo, Patti LuPone, Allison Janney, Lea Salonga & many more!
Visit the Current Auctions page for further details and links to each listing. Happy Christmas and happy bidding!
17th July 2017
As of today the amount donated to Bloodwise via The Forget--Me-Not Project has officially passed the £10,000 mark! I am thrilled and would like to say a huge thank you to all supporters and participants for your generosity of time, money & spirit.
Plans for the forthcoming Summer Auction are in full swing and more details will be announced next month. Among the items included are a photo and autograph set featuring Mr Peter Kay (which was an absolute joy to obtain), lots of signed Playbills and programmes and hopefully a few surprises.
This month marks my 50th birthday while August sees Sue's 18th anniversary; I couldnt wish for a better commemoration than to take the amount raised well into 5 figures. Please check back for updates and help to help the wonderful work of Bloodwise!
24th May 2017: a special auction, the year so far and the shape of things to come.
Today I'm delighted to announce a one-off Forget-Me-Not Project auction for two tickets to a special Q&A with Peter Kay, Britain's favourite comedian and star of Phoenix Nights and Car Share, which takes place in Blackpool on Sunday 4th June. The seats are just 12 rows from the stage - a must for any Peter Kay fan! In this special event at the Blackpool Opera House the multi award-winning funny man will be discussing his phenomenal career in comedy and sharing some exclusive clips and outtakes from his most popular shows. The auction runs until Wednesday 31st May - you can place your bids HERE.
Plans are also taking shape for further fundraising in the summer, including a bumper auction, an event in Torquay, a raffle and more sponsored activities - watch this space!
In March I was able to raise just shy of £500 for Cancer Research by walking a minimum of 4 miles every single day in their 'March Against Cancer' Challenge. Thank you to all the generous folks who sponsored me!
April saw a flying visit to New York to see the divine Miss Bette Midler in the sublime 'Hello, Dolly!' While there I was able to set about gathering some fantastic signed theatre memorabilia, including Playbills signed by Bette Midler herself, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sally Field, Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Mark Ruffalo and many more - look out for them in the forthcoming Summer Auction.
I hope there will be much more on offer in the coming months, so keep checking back and don't forget to follow the Forget-Me-Not Project on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for supporting this little labour of love and helping Bloodwise to achieve big things in the fight against blood cancer.
5th February 2017: thoughts on Forget-Me-Not Project past, present & future
Today would have been my sister's 48th birthday. It's also 17 years & 6 months since she lost her short battle against leukaemia. Fittingly I spent most of the day with family and some time reviewing my ongoing fundraising efforts. Just before Christmas the Forget-Me-Not Project donated a further £500 to Bloodwise and, even though it was slightly disappointing not to hit the £10k mark, onwards & upwards! I hope to find a new online auction platform this year in order to continue offering unique photos, autograph cards and memorabilia for sale. But in the meantime:
2017 marks 2 personal milestones for me: as well as being the 18th anniversary of Sue's death, it's my 50th birthday this summer. So I'm looking to mark both these occasions by getting fitter and by raising a ton of money for various cancer charities. Please sponsor me in my first challenge here: My March Against Cancer.
Also - if you get the chance - please go and see 'The Girls, the fantastic new musical written by Gary Barlow & Tim Firth based on the inspirational true story of 'The Calendar Girls' who have raised millions in the ongoing battle against leukaemia & other cancers. A brilliant cast, a brilliant cause and one of the funniest, most uplifting and feelgood musicals you could hope to see. Having seen it twice in previews I can't wait to go again. And it's raising tons of money and awareness, so what's not to love!??
20th November 2016
And we're off! 50+ listings in aid of Bloodwise go live tonight: celebrity photo/autograph sets and dozens of signed items including playbills, programmes, posters, CD's and scripts. 100% of proceeds will be passed to the UK's leading leukaemia research charity. Please bid generously!
13th November 2016
Plans are finally afoot and the 2016 Forget-Me-Not Project Christmas Auction will launch on Sunday 20th November! Check out the Current Auctions page for a preview of the 50+ listings which include items featuring a host of West End, Broadway, Film & TV stars. To allow items to be posted in good time for Christmas, the Auction will end on Sunday 27th November so why not treat someone to a unique Xmas gift and give others the gift of life via the wonderful work undertaken by Bloodwise?
30th October 2016
After a long hiatus (due to moving house) The Forget-Me-Not Project will soon be back with a Christmas auction featuring many items and autographs collected this year. Among them are some of the biggest names on Broadway, lots and lots of signed Playbills, two items sure to be of interest X-Files fans and a rare (possibly unique) souvenir of a grand season of theatre which ran between 2012-2014. Watch this space for more details...
1st April 2016
That was the week that was! A few days ago I was able to pass the grand total of £1210.41 over to Bloodwise, all thanks to the generous bidders & buyers in the latest Forget-Me-Not Project auction. This means that - with your help - the Forget-Me-Not Project should be able to reach the memorable £10,000 mark this year, something I hope to achieve sooner rather than later. For starters, why not check out the current '2nd chance' auction where you can bid on 18 recent items which are still to find their 'forever homes'?! Visit the Current Auctions page for further details - but be quick; the listings end on 6th April.
18th March 2016
Thirty auction listings are now live and open for bidding - you can check them out on the Current Auctions page. Among the items are photos, autographs and an amazing VIP experience featuring stars of two of my favourite television programmes: Call the Midwife and The X Files. As always, 100% of proceeds from the auction will go to help Bloodwise in their ongoing battle to beat blood cancer. So why not treat yourself or a loved one to a unique gift and contribute to a fantastic cause to boot? Happy browsing/bidding!
11th March 2016
The date is set! The first Forget-Me-Not Project of 2016 will run between Thursday 17th March to Sunday 27th March and will feature a host of theatre, television and film stars including James Corden, David Suchet, Sheridan Smith, Tom Chambers, Julia McKenzie, James Earl Jones, Celia Imrie, Hugo Speer, Richard O'Brien, Jim Broadbent, Shane Richie, Emerald Fennell, Sheila Hancock and many more... Plus look out for a fantastic auction item featuring 'The X-Files' star David Duchovny.
28th January 2016
Welcome / welcome back to the Forget-Me-Not Project homepage! Unfortunately it's been a little while since my last auction but I hope to rectify that matter in the next few weeks, and to get the New Year off to a flying start. 2015 turned out to be a very challenging year for me both personally and professionally but, in the immortal words of D:REAM: 'Things Can Only Get Better'. So 'onwards & upwards' and other assorted clichés...!
The year has started promisingly and I hope to include autographs and memorabilia featuring (amongst others) Jim Broadbent, Simon Russell Beale, Emerald Fennell, Sheridan Smith & Darius Campbell in the next auction. Stay tuned for details of where/what/when/how! In the meantime why not head over to the brand new Bloodwise website and check out all the exciting things which the charity has been involved in since its re-launch in September...?
15th May 2015
A quick update on the Forget-Me-Not Project so far this year: after the last auction a further £400 was passed to Leukaemia Research (an amount which I hope to double via a matched giving scheme). Things remain quiet on the theatre-going front - save for one glorious evening watching Emma Thompson & Bryn Terfel perform in the ENO's Sweeney Todd at the Coliseum - but I hope that normal service will be resumed as soon as my job search bears fruit. September 2015 will bring Blood Cancer Awareness month and the launch of a major campaign by LLRF, as was revealed at April's Impact Day. It was a day full of passionate advocacy, inspiring success stories and exciting developments which make me more determined than ever to carry on until blood cancer is finally beaten. Please help me do this by supporting The Forget-Me-Not Project via auctions and offline sales.
18th March 2015
The first Forget-Me-Not Project auction of 2015 begins tomorrow, featuring stars and memorabilia from my 3 most recently-seen shows: Forbidden Broadway, Assassins & City of Angels. Among the West End and Broadway stars who have contributed autographs and/or photographs are Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Catherine Tate, Jamie Parker, Peter Polycarpou, Hadley Fraser, Rosalie Craig, Tam Mutu, Simon Lipkin and Christina Bianco. Check out the Current Auctions page between 19th-29th March for links to all listings.
March 2015 - All Quiet on the West End Front
Nine weeks into the New Year (and only one West End trip so far!) but I'm happy to confirm that the first Forget-me-Not Project auction of 2015 will take place between 19th-29th March - watch this space for further details. I'm also looking forward to my 2nd theatre trip of the year in April, taking in the ENO's production of 'Sweeney Todd' and the West End transfer of the Young Vic's 'A View from the Bridge'. A further treat in April: my first visit to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's Impact Day where I hope to meet and connect with fellow fundraisers, volunteers, researchers and advocates.
On a personal note, 2015 will see some major life changes for me, including redundancy from my (much-loved) job of 17 years. The year so far has been chock-full of travelling, training successors, replacing a bathroom & a kitchen, redecorating, re-writing my CV, searching for a new job and planning my financial future... among other things! When all the dust has settled I hope to resume regular auctions and introduce some exciting new fundraising ideas into The Forget-Me-Not Project... In the meantime thank you for bearing with!
Christmas Eve 2014
Wishing a very Happy Christmas to all my friends & followers. Thank you for your continued support in helping to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. 2014 has been The Forget-Me-Not Project's best year yet, with over £1500 raised in the last auction alone. I'm eager to build on this in 2015 (a year which promises some major challenges for me personally). May it bring health and happiness to all... Fiona x
Wednesday 26th November 2014
With just 4 days left to run in the Christmas Auction bidding is hotting up and The Forget-Me-Not Project is on course for its best-ever total. Huge thanks to all who have participated and publicised so far, especially Andy Jackson at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Andy has kindly allowed me to write a blog page for the charity's website which you can view here. There are still plenty of items up for grabs, so if you fancy getting hold of a unique gift and helping a worthwhile cause into the bargain then why not visit our Current Auctions page...?
And don't forget: all Forget-Me-Not celebrity flower photos can be purchased as reprints. Simply visit the Buy/Donate page for more information.
Thursday 20th November 2014
Today's the day! Over 100 Christmas Auction listings will begin to go live from 2pm GMT. The auction runs through to Sunday 30th November and features an array of photos, books, programmes, playbills and other signed items which would make great gifts - or why not treat yourself?? Please help to support the vital work of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research by sharing this link with friends, family and fellow fans... Many Thanks & Happy Bidding!
Thursday 2nd October 2014
The Forget-Me-Not Project celebrates its 3rd birthday this week, and what better way to mark the occasion than by passing the fantastic sum of £620 on to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research? That was the amount raised in the auction which began on 18th September and, in case you haven't yet bid, the good news is that all of the unsold items are still available in a 2nd chance auction. Take a look and grab it before it's gone! And don't forget, lots more fantastic items will be on offer in our bumper Christmas auction starting on 20th November. Watch this space for details...
Thursday 18th September 2014
Tonight's the night when 50 auction listings go live, featuring funny people such as Steve Coogan, Rufus Hound & Victoria Wood and fine actors such as Richard Armitage, John Lithgow & Mercedes Ruehl. Even as this auction gets underway plans are well in-hand for a bumper Christmas auction which will feature many highly-collectable items of signed-memorabilia along with several more unique flower photo/autograph sets. Look out for a Memorabilia page to be added to the site soon, showcasing all the signed items - sold & unsold - which have been collected for The Forget-Me-Not Project over the years. Many will feature in the bumper Christmas auction which is scheduled to start on 20th November.
Tuesday 16th September 2014
WELCOME to the new-look Forget-Me-Not Project website which is being launched in conjunction with our latest auction. Please use the menu above to navigate around the site. If you would like to go straight to our current listings please click HERE. September's auction runs from Thursday 18th until Sunday 28th and is dedicated to the memory of the late, great Robin Williams.
Monday 25th August 2014
The next auction will begin on Thursday 18th September and will run for 10 days. In honour of the late, great Robin Williams the auction will feature a host of comedians and comic actors as well as 3 of his former co-stars (John Lithgow from 'The World According to Garp', Mercedes Ruehl of 'The Fisher King' and Robert Sean Leonard of 'Dead Poets Society). By popular demand I will also be including a programme from the acclaimed Old Vic production of 'The Crucible' which has been signed by the entire cast including lead actor, Richard Armitage.
Sunday 3rd August 2014
Provisonal start dates for the next two auctions have been set for 18th September & 20th November. In the meantime, new photos and items of memorabilia are being collected and work is underway on improving the look and layout of the website. If you would like to make any suggestions, offer assistance or learn more about The Forget-Me-Not Project please don't hesitate to contact me via forget-me-not-project@hotmail.co.uk
Fiona Beaumont