The Book Bag Project - Please help a child fill long hours in hospital

An example of the contents of an Under the Fountain Book Bag

Under The Fountain" is an adventure story that takes place on the West Country coast, about a boy with leukaemia. The story provides children who are spending a lot of time in hospital, the opportunity of using their imaginations in difficult situations and also gives them the chance of seeing a positive self image in a story. The book has the approval of CLIC-Sargent, and has had some medical input from a Paediatrician and CLIC-Sargent nurses, and sea life information from the Seal Sanctuary in Gweek.

"Book bags" are useful to go along with the books to give children comfort and to explain through the story what is happening to them. ( book bags consist of related information books on sea life, sticker books, DVD, note pad and markers, and plastic sea-life animals) All of these things help children to continue their education and stimulate their imagination in a positive way during their stay in hospital.

Each book bag costs about £50.00, and a book is £5.99.  We would really appreciate any help that you might be able to give us towards this project.
We would like to give at least one book bag to each hospital, that carries out oncology treatment in the South West and Midlands.


If you would like to get involved, contribute or know an organisation or a school that would like to help us with this project, please contact us at underthefountain@gmail.com    

The Under The Fountain Book Project

  Since the summer I have been visiting one or two business a week in Tavistock and the surrounding area to try and interest them in the project of giving copies of Under the Fountain to children in Hospital.  I explained how I had come to write the book and that the book had the backing of CLIC-Sargent. 

So far the businesses that have donated have been:- Calweton Veterinary Group, Cafe Liason, Taylor’s Restaurant, J.S. Downing Butchers, Dartmoor Country Clothing, Quinns, Bryant’s Interiors, The Original Pasty House, Cornwall Farmers, Encore, Lucy Watson –Ostepath, the Fireplace and Stove Centre, and Rockin Beads.

Bryony, well and healthy at the book signing

I was so pleased to have Bryony's support on the day

Under The Fountain book signing, Waterstones Yeovil

Bryony meeting up with Tessa, a friend from Tintinhull School

Thanks to Lydia for her help

Many thanks to everyone who came along to the book signing, both to help and promote CLIC-Sargent and those that bought books and made donations. Thanks too to the staff at Watestones, who couldn't have been more welcoming!

Book Signing at Waterstones, Yeovil

On the 15th of August, Waterstones in Yeovil has invited us to do a book signing of Under the Fountain.

We will be in their children's section from 12-2.00 pm.

This will not only be a great opportunity to sell more books to raise money for CLIC-Sargent, but also a chance to catch up with friends, neighbours and people who have worked at Yeovil Hopital, and people who are supporters of CLIC-Sargent.

There will be children's activities as well as the book signing.

I'm really looking forward to this event and I'm hoping that  Bryony might be able to make it too. 





30th of April, News Report on Under the Fountain Book Signing in the Plymouth Evening Herald

21st of June, 2011 Valerie Daekin offers to host a charity event at Orley House for a garden Tea Party

After meeting with Valerie, who has offered to host a charity event to raise mony for CLIC-Sargent, we have decided to hold a Tea Party on 20th of August, 2-4.30, 2011. We are going to hold a further meeting in 2 weeks time to confirm the details of the event.

23rd of April, Book Signing at Waterstones, Drake Centre, Plymouth

I have to say that I was quite nervous about this, but it turned out to be a really enjoyable day. We gave out the flyer on the book which hopefully raised the profile of Under the Fountain and of CLIC-Sargent and of course helped to sell some books. The staff of Waterstones couldn't have been more welcoming and were on hand to help us set up the display and to see if there was anything else we needed. They like to support local authors.

A number of children in the shop filled in book reviews of Under the Fountain along with drawing their own pictures of seals etc.

It was a great opportunity to meet many interesting people, other authors- one just learning the trade, teachers and a number of people who have had a connection with CLIC-Sargent or other cancer charities.

Many thanks to Michele, Will, Sarah, Pete, Helen, Jennie, Dave and Nick for helping and giving support.

20th March, 2011 Yummy Mummy Tea Party a success for CLIC-Sargent

What a lovely afternoon!! The hall was a picture, a proper village tea party and a good number of the people of St Dominick turned out for the event. Karen and her family raised over £5oo for CLIC-Sargent.

I don't think that I have ever seen so many cakes in one place. The children all seemed to be ejoying the activities provided for them.

The highlight of the afternoon for me was meeting Olivia again, signing her copy

of Under the Fountain and talking to her about some of the experiences that she has had.

Many thanks to Michele for helping me out with the Under the Fountain Stand.

7 December, 2010 Launch of book

A celebration of the publication and launch with keen supporters in Totnes.

Under The Fountain Arrives before 2.00 pm

1000 copies have arrived. I can't believe the book has become a reality at last. The man in the delivery van didn't let us down, inspite of icy road condiitions and fog. A big thank you to everyone that has been involved in getting Under the Fountain this far.

Under the Fountain is priced at £5.99 . The net profits from the book go to CLIC-Sargent.