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Without West Mid Baby Unit my children wouldn't be here
By Estelle Marais(BRENTFORD & CHISWICK TIMES)
FROM a stint as an Ann Summers lingerie model to the mythical Greek creature, Medusa, Debbie Dewar certainly cannot be accused of slacking when it comes to charity.
The 35-year-old mother of three has gone to considerable lengths to raise money for West Middlesex Hospital's premature baby unit and children's Starlight Ward, after all three of her children received life saving care there.
"I started raising money 13 years ago after my first child was born," she says. "I think I realised the importance of charity work only when I had to have the use of West Mid's premature baby unit.. I ended up having all three of my children in there, and without that equipment none of my babies would be around today. So it means a lot to me."
One of Debbie's children was born a precarious two months early, while the other two were both premature by one week.
And she is adamant that without the help of the hospital, her 13-year-old son, seven-year-old daughter, and toddler,15 months, would not be alive today.
She says: "Premature babies are becoming more common these days, but it seems to be an area that is often overlooked when it comes to raising money. I guess only when you've had the use of the premature baby unit, you understand it really can be the difference between life and death."
One of Debbie's earliest events for charity included an Ann Summers show back in 1993, where she took part as an underwear model. Since then she has revived the Brentford Festival and raised £800 from a Halloween party in October where she premiered as Medusa.
She says: "Modelling for Ann Summers in my undies was fantastic. It's quite a daring thing to do but at the time I didn't really think about it, I just felt I was doing something really good to raise money for a group. I've always enjoyed dressing up or in that case dressing down so it was just a lot of fun. Any excuse for a party and I'm there, especially if it's in fancy dress."
Debbie's passion for dressing up and costume making was inspired by her grandmother, who taught her to sew by the time she was 11-years-old.
And party fever interested her so much that she even went to college while pregnant to study flower arranging and creating animals and patterns from balloons.
"I went to college for a whole year to learn how to mess with balloons," she says. "But sewing has always been my passion. I was into fancy dress costumes, wigs, flowers and things like that from a young age, and I used to make the outfits for all of my school's productions. But the best costume I ever made was a great big daisy duck for a fancy dress party. It was huge! It had a great big head with a pink bow, a massive bum, and furry feet. I've made so many costumes now that I have about 50 at home with no one to wear them. Before giving birth to my third child I was thinking of opening up a costume shop here in Brentford."
However, complications after the birth of her daughter forced Debbie to put all plans for her shop on hold.
Instead she has been devoting her skills to hosting events to raise money for West Mid, including a Christmas Eve party a few years ago at the Princess Royal, the rebirth of the Brentford Festival in the summer this year, and the Halloween fancy dress party, which raised £800.
"The turnout for the Halloween party was brilliant. It was very hectic to plan because my 15-month-old daughter was in hospital with pneumonia and I was dividing my time between that and dealing with all the arrangements for the event. But it paid off and it was wonderful."
She adds: "Even the Brentford Festival was a fantastic day out. It's a shame we couldn't have done it years ago. I was born and bred in Brentford and I always wanted to get involved in something like this but found it difficult to take part in the older festival that used to be around, so I started it up on my own."
Debbie plans to turn the festival into an annual event which she hopes will become bigger and better every year.
"Next year I want to get a parade up and running. When I was younger all the schools took part in the old Brentford Carnival, and I want that kind of involvement again. Hopefully next year there will be more community involvement because all Brentford people should be part of something like this."
At the festival Debbie raised £50 for the hospital with a face painting stall where she charged £1 per face.
"I painted 50 faces that day and it was such hard work. It was so hot on the day that the make-up was melting, and some of the characters were very complicated, like Spiderman, which was a popular one. It took a lot of time because it's a very intricate design."
She says: "At the moment I'm taking a break, but I'm sure something else to work on will come up soon. I love Brentford it's a bit like the Bermuda triangle, you just never really manage to leave once you're living here and I guess the next big thing to concentrate on will be the 2006 Brentford festival."
"In the long term though," she adds, "I will open my own costume shop. I'm always on the scout for small premises in the area. I won't be complete in my life until I've done that and my nan would have loved it."
Fantasy comes true for fundraiser
Fancy that! A Brentford mum has made her dreams come true by opening a fancy dress shop, which will help raise money for children's charities.
Debbie Dewar, a mum of three, opened Fantasy Land, on Ealing Road in Brentford on Saturday, June 3, and said: "It has been a dream of mine to own a fancy dress shop ever since I was a little girl. My gran used to make me all these lovely costumes. I wanted to live my dream."
For years Mrs Dewar has raised money for the premature baby unit and the Starlight Children's Ward at West Middlesex Hospital after her three children received treatment at the centre.
There will be a money box in the shop to collect small change from customers to go to the charities.
(HOUNSLOW CHRONICAL NEWSPAPER)
DEBBIE DEWAR & INA CHUREETUR raised £800 for the Premature baby unit and are buying some items for the starlight ward west middlesex hospital.
The event was a great sucess attended by local councellers and many other members of the public who all throughly enjoyed themselfs at the ball.
Debbie says "It was fantastic to see so many people in fancy dress costumes and unique ideas it made all our hard efforts worth while"
A raffle was held as well as prizes for the best costumes winners included were
1st prize the green goblin (scott)
2nd prize sicotic santa (john)
3rd prize the green feathered witch (marilyn)
Ina should have won a prize for her costume whatever she was suposed to be and entertaining people with her funky dancing .
Ina says "Im glad this event was held on my birthday 28th oct 05 as it was a brilliant night and we all had so much fun"
Debbie says "I have been raising money for the premature baby unit for 12 years after my 1st son Torron was born nearly 2 monthes early and my other 2 children Torriarna and Tyzja-Topaz have also been born into the baby unit , Inas son alfie was also born 2 months premature and thats why this is so dear to our hearts to help other familys in the same situation as we have experienced
without the special care we recieved from the baby unit and the very important life saving equipment our babys might not be hear today. Starlght ward is also important to me as all 3 of my children have been cared for in there.
We would like to thank all those people who donated money to us even though they were unable to attend inc British Airways Air hostess Jane Berndgt, Parents of Green Dragon School Brentford , and many others.BRENTFORD & CHISWICK TIMES
Costume Ball to raise funds for charity
Come as you dare to fund raising event
Debbie Dewar, the owner of Fantasy Land Fancy Dress shop on Ealing Road has organised a charity event to raise money for premature babies and other sick children.
The money raised will go to the Starlight Children's ward at West Middlesex Hospital. This is the 14th such fund-raising event that she has organised.
The event will take place at the Gardeners Suite night club (next to the Triple Crown pub) at 266 Twickenham Road on 1st September. The evening begins at 9pm and goes on until late. You can get tickets from Debbie's shop which is open from 12noon until 5pm or by calling 0208 569 8765. Tickets cost only £5.
There will be prizes for the best costumes and cheesy disco party music.
TW8 WEBSITE(Editor)
Feb 12 2007 08:46 am
to the fantasy land party fairy debbie and the archangel ina whens the next party cant wait what will the theme be this year?
call us soon
mary x
Feb 12 2007 08:44 am
Debs you wear me out where do you get your energy from i wish i could have your get up and go, loving your shop and all you do for the sick children and tiny babies at west mid you must be very proud, we will always suport your events so hurry up and do some more
peace and love you crazy girl
tony and trevor
Jan 29 2007 02:10 am
GO DEBBIE GO DEBBIE GO
YOUR FANTASTIC TO SAY THE LEAST
YOU INSPIRE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH ALL YOUR TALENTS.
PEACE TANYA XXX
Jan 26 2007 01:30 am
p.s i think ina is just as crazy
tina xxxxxxxx
Jan 26 2007 01:28 am
Debs you crazy nutter cant wait for the next party st georges day yippy
Im coming as ginger spice he he
we all love you shop and your mad parties.
love tina xxxxxxxxxxx
Jan 21 2007 03:34 pm
fantastic right up lol u work so hard and its all for such a good course. we love comin to ur parties and dressing up like idiots lol one of the funniest was when plockie and ollie come as fat pat da stripper and daffyn (piffin) private joke da only gay in da village and ali g, it was joke lol. halloween was just as funny wid bat man and robbing and us gyals come as a sexy angel,sexy nun, witch and a sexy pirate c u soon love ya wen da nxt party xxx jojo
Jan 7 2007 12:07 am
deb u r the best u r nuts
and the shop is cool.
love sammy.
Dec 9 2006 08:57 pm
debbie
u r the most madest person i have met in my life you are always daring and kind. People dont realise how much effort you put into raising money for the premiture babies and your other charity organisations. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!
Georgie
