INTERVIEW: Sazz is Adding Another Zero

As I mentioned in my last blog we have one last member of McFlyDARES – Miss Sazz Lawson. After getting in contact with me through Twitter, Sazz shared a few other things about Eyes Alight and their involvement with the Appeal. Not only that, she also mentioned that there is now a NEW target - £1000! But I’ll let Sazz talk about the steady march towards adding another zero.

So first of all, "Yay" to the fact that you're almost there (£500) - on the scale of 1-10 how happy are you? (NB: I interviewed her before the target changed :D.)

Thank you! I'm more than happy, I'm proud of all of us and everyone who have donated and been involved! They have helped us help people less fortunate then some of ourselves and it’s an honour to be a part of it.

So according to Jay, Hannah and Lucy, you all pretty much were inspired to be involved with BIRT and Eyes Light by Tom "McFly" Fletcher's efforts, but what got you personally involved?

Some of the stories I was being told, after telling people what I was going to be doing, made me re-think how I look at my life. I take things for granted and I spend money on things I can't show for it.
Being a part of this has shown me that my money can go to better causes and to people that deserve it.

Now, Hannah and Lucy explained that McFlyDARES existed way before the fundraising started, tell us some things people got you girls to do.

Honestly we didn't get a lot of interest at first, so we were making up our own dares, but now a lot more people know what we're doing and why we're doing it, we've had a fair few dares coming in.
Even some fans have created their own dares and are doing them in their own time.
I can't remember the dares off by heart but we have a fair few lined up for the gigs we're at!

According to Hannah, you came up with the name "McFlyDARES" - tell us how that came about?

Says all in the name really – we're McFly fans part taking in dares. I put more thought in the online donation page because that's what the majority of the people will look at. Mcflyfansunite makes me think of our nickname as McFly fans 'galaxy defenders'. It's uniting the entire fan base into one group and shows how much stronger a team we are when we work together.

What was it like when Gi and Izzy got in contact with you guys? What was running through your head?

Giovanna first got in touch with me through a direct message on twitter. I have to admit I was pretty darn excited that she'd got in touch! After I (eventually) calmed down I re-read through the message and instantly contacted Lucy! I also have to admit I did start crying because I never imagined it to get this far I still can't believe now how big it's become and how well we're doing. I was so touched that she and Izzy had taken their own time to get in touch with me and the other girls.

I here you girls are getting some paraphernalia for McFlyDARES, would they be available for everyone or are they just so people can spot you guys out in the crowd? What are you girls looking into getting made - just T-shirts or more?

I think at the minute it's just something to show people how to spot us at the shows and be interested in what we're doing. I have been sent some leaflets and posters which will (hopefully) be handed out at the concerts we'll be at! Hannah had been making some McFly 'pioneer' necklaces for a few months and is selling them to help raise more money for Eyes Alight.

Jay swam in the ocean, Hannah and Lucy are going to do their dare/s at the Glasgow show - will you be joining them or will you do (or have done) your own dare?

I have a few lined up, ha! We'll all be doing some together at the shows we're together at. - piggy back races, wheelbarrow races, etc. - they'll be some extreme (yet safe-ish) dares once we reach our target online and our target in total (£1000).

After the tour ends in the UK and the boys start touring elsewhere, will you girls be still be doing dares or will you leave it to your representatives in particular countries?

There are a few summer shows we're attending and would happily carry on with the fundraising! The international fans have been so supportive too. We've had America, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany etc. all wanting to be involved and help when McFly travel to their country. I'm still so shocked how international it's become.

Throughout this entire project, what was the hardest thing you girls had to do?

I think raising the awareness was the hardest bit, once the first donation came in; they weren't stopping until we hit £100! Our target was at first £100 but we had to change it! We were really trying our hardest to spread the word and a friend of mine called Tanya asked me to write a letter and she'll give it to McFly when she next met them. I think that's where it all started, she had given it to Harry and that's when I got the Direct message from Gi about 4 days after.

Finish this sentence: "Helping BIRT and Eyes Alight has been a great experience because..."

It’s made me realise how much I have got in my life, and even on my "downest" of days, there are people out there who are worse off than me and can't do anything about it. The money raised will help people have a brighter life and experience things I’ve been lucky to see. It will make their Eyes Alight once again.

Thank you Jay, Hannah, Lucy and Sazz for taking the time to answer my questions and getting your message and hearts cross. We’ve been inspirations and I will be making my own donation via: http://www.justgiving.com/mcflyfansunite or http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=TheDisabilitiesTrustAppeals as soon as I can. You’ve all been so great and I can’t wait to hear more about what crazy things you’ll get up to! God bless and I hope you surpass your £1000 target and have to add another zero!

With love, sL.