On Friday we featured HeathenStorm’s emotive competition entry describing what his Dream Donation would be. After speaking with friends who have cared for people with Alzheimer’s, he would ideally raise £163,000 – a pound for every new case of dementia discovered in England and Wales – in aid of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

We’re thrilled to announce that, thanks to that video, he will be joining our fund-raising explorer, Chi-Chi Ekweozor, on a leg of her amazing challenge to visit the 7 Wonders in 7 Days!

His chosen Wonder? The Chángchéng; The Great Wall of China.

If you still want to get involved with this amazing globetrotting project, we’ve extended our competition deadline to the 10^th of September!

Remember, it’s absolutely free to enter. All you have to do is send us a video, like HeathenStorm, telling us about your dream donation to one of our seven sponsored charities.

Your video could earn you a trip to one of the new 7 Wonders of the World; be it the Peruvian ruin of Machu Picchu, the enigmatic archeological city of Petra in Jordan, the inspirational Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the wondrous Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, the Colosseum in Rome, or the Mayan ruin of Chichen Itza in Mexico. And all in the name of charity!

So what are you waiting for? Get editing!

If you’re unable to join us, please sponsor us via Virgin Money Giving, where your money will be given directly to, and split seven ways between, our seven charities, including Diabetes UK, Young Minds UK, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and more.

This is a guest post by Christine Michael (@cemichael on Twitter) who writes about diabetes, diet and health.  Find out more about Christine Michael on LinkedIn.

Team GB at the Diabetes Junior Cup Football Championship, Geneva, Switzerland

A squad of young British footballers with Type 1 diabetes are celebrating success after taking on teams from 15 countries in the fourth annual Diabetes Junior Cup Football Championship, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland over August 20-23.

Three teams – 22 boys and two girls, aged from six to 17 – represented Great Britain in the event, which is organised by diabetes management specialist Medtronic.  They were chosen after applying to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the Junior Cup’s UK charity partner.  Some of the players enjoy football at school, while others already play for pro-youth academies at top clubs.

After two days of exciting matches in glorious sunshine, the GB Junior Team emerged as champions of their division, while the Senior Team were unlucky to be beaten in their final by Slovakia. The Kids Team finished a creditable fourth in their group, which was won by Spain.

A surprise highlight of the event was a visit from Sir Steve Redgrave, who gave a talk about how he continued his rowing career after being diagnosed with diabetes in 1997.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist told the players he was ‘hugely impressed’ with their footballing skills and how the teams had bonded through the competition.

‘Seeing so many of you playing sport is an inspiration to someone like me,’ he said. ‘No one would ever know you had a medical condition and that is how it should be.’ – Sir Steve Redgrave

163,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease occur each year in England and Wales, according to Alzheimer’s Research Trust – that’s one new case every 3.2 minutes.

In his entry to 7 Wonders in 7 Days, artist, musician and blogger HeathenStorm (www.heathenstorm.com) has clearly taken this information to heart. After hearing the touching stories of friends who have cared for patients with dementia, @HeathenStorm has dedicated his 7 Wonders in 7 Days Dream Donation to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust: £163,000 – a pound for every case reported each year; a pound for every 3.2 minutes in a year.

Click Here to see HeathenStorm’s entry on YouTube

He says that while on an individual level even such a large some of money would still not be enough, the research it could help fund could prevent a cherished memory from being lost forever.

If you have been inspired by HeathenStorm’s moving entry, there is still time to submit your own Dream Donation video for the chance to visit one of the newly-crowned 7 Wonders of the World in aid of seven charities (Join Me) – but the deadline is this weekend!

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Chichen Itza, Petra, the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Christ Redeemer, or Machu Picchu, now is your chance!

Doesn’t the week fly by so quickly? It’s nearly weekend and today is the last day of our celebrity poll, and we’ve extended the deadline to 3pm. If you haven’t yet voted, please do so – every little help will benefit our 7 sponsored charities!

7 Wonders in 7 Days is an ambitious, innovative and inspiring project created by Chi-Chi Ekweozor and hopes to benefit seven remarkable charities with a globetrotting adventure to the world’s 7 Wonders – and you could join her by entering our competition!

The schools, town halls and recreational centres have closed for business and the polls are open! Yes, you can now vote for your favourite adventurous celebrity to get involved with 7 Wonders in 7 Days and help raise money for our seven sponsored charities.

Voting will close this Friday at 10am.

To find out more about Chi-Chi and her unique and inspiring fund-raising attempt click here.

Actor and comedienne Isy Suttie

Following Isy Suttie and Jon Lancaster’s involvement in our Twitter Q&A in aid of Young Minds UK last week, the 7 Wonders in 7 Days team have been asking for suggestions of other personalities that would be willing to get involved with our unique fund-raising cause.

We were looking for a traveler, someone with an enthusiasm to see the world around them and a passion for the outdoors. We’ve managed to narrow down the names to 7 and we need you to make your definitive choice!

Those names are: adventurer Ben Fogle (@BenFogle); survivalist Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls); actor, writer and presenter Stephen Fry (@StephenFry); presenter and actress Davina McCall (@ThisIsDavina); physicist and presenter Prof. Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox); presenter and eager traveler Helen Skelton (@HelenSkelton26); and former footballer and presenter John Fashanu (@JohnFashanu).

So get voting for the personality that you’d love to see get involved with 7 Wonders in 7 Days!

Will it be Davina McCall’s effulgent exuberance or Steven Fry’s benevolent wisdom that wins through? Or will our unique fund-raising initiative be benefited by the determination of Amazon kayaker Helen Skelton or the experience and knowledge of extreme adventurer Bear Grylls?

We will announce who has garnered the most votes from you, our lovely followers, this Friday at 10am.

Time still remains for entries into our incredible once-in-a-lifetime competition to see one of the new 7 Wonders of the World in an unforgettable 3 day trip, but be quick! Submit your entry via our Enter page.

Remember that this is all in aid of our seven sponsored charities. Please give what you can.

Image Credit: The Electric, Birmingham

Machu Picchu

All this week the 7 Wonders in 7 Days team will be asking your celebrities or twelebrities what they would do if they were given the trip of a lifetime: a chance to visit one of the newly-crowned 7 Wonders of the World.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what Professor Brian Cox - the man behind the BBC’s epic ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ series – would consider his favourite earthly wonder, or what extreme explorer Bear Grylls would eat hiking to Machu Picchu, now is your chance to nominate them for an interview in aid of charity.

Already we’ve had fantastic chats with Peep Show’s Isy Suttie and upcoming F1 star Jon Lancaster – who also joined us live on twitter last week.

Putting your questions to your nominees will be our intrepid traveler, Chi-Chi Ekweozor, in preparation of her attempt to raise money for 7 different charities by visiting each of the world’s 7 Wonders in 7 days.

It’s quite a challenge and you could even join her by entering our competition. Simply tell us what your dream donation would be to one of our 7 sponsored charities and you could win a seat on the plane to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights!

If you can’t find the time for a once-in-a-lifetime 3 day trip, however, please send us your celebrity nominations via twitter @7wondersin7days or facebook.

These interviews will aim to greatly benefit the sufferers of alzheimer’s, people with diabetes, young people and children suffering psychological difficulties, education in impoverished regions, and many other worthy, pertinent causes.

If you feel the need to benefit our charities directly, you can also donate safely through Virgin Money Giving, where your money will be split 7 ways amongst our causes.

Everyone at 7 Wonders in 7 Days thanks you for all your help.

Image Credit: Ynview.net

As time counts down on our competition deadline, this week we’ll be looking to interview extraordinary people who love adventure and travel on Facebook and Twitter.

If you know someone who’s been clocking up the air miles or someone who has been obsessed with visiting the far corners of the world, please nominate them to take part!

Each interview will be in aid of 7 Wonders in 7 Days,  a never-been-done-before round the world charity fundraising trip that is raising £777,000 for 7 charities by visiting the new 7 wonders of the world in 7 days.

By answering just a couple of questions, your nomination could be one of the 7 lucky people joining Chi-Chi on her globetrotting expedition!

Their interview could win a trip to the incredible archaeological city of Petra or experience the picturesque isolation of Machu Picchu or marvel at the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, or any one of the other amazing, newly crowned wonders of the world.

So, nominate your favourite adventure-loving, thrill seeking twelebrity or celebrity by getting in touch with us @7wondersin7days and we’ll interview them on Facebook and Twitter next week and see if they’re up for it!

But you must be quick! We’ve only got 7 places available.  And the deadline for entering the competitions is Sunday 5th September.

Remember, you can still enter our 60 second video competition to join Chi-chi on her incredible adventure to visit the new 7 wonders in 7 days by submitting your created video to Chi-Chi’s YouTube Travel Companion Group. For more information about the competition, click here.

This project is dedicated to benefiting 7 special charitable organizations including YoungMinds UK and DiabetesUK. Please donate what you can.

Image Credit: TravelBlissful.com

As I type this, I’m listening to comedienne and actress Isy Suttie, who plays Dobby the self-confessed “IT misfit” on Channel 4’s BAFTA award-winning sitcom Peep Show giving an interview on YouTube.

For those unaware of the cult TV phenomenon that is Peep Show, here is Isy in character introducing herself to Mark Corrigan (played by David Mitchell of Mitchell and Webb) on the show. Mitchell and Webb also star in the ‘I’m a Mac, I’m a PC’ UK Apple Mac TV ads.

Back to that interview on YouTube. It’s really amusing, here comes what can only be described as a Karl Pilkington moment:

“…that’s really sweet, like you’re introducing two hamsters in your hand and stroking them simultaneously…”

She’s actually describing texting on a Blackberry.  Chuckle…

Comedian and raconteur Karl Pilkington is best known for co-presenting The Ricky Gervais Show, the 2007 Guinness World Record holder for the world’s most downloaded podcast.

But I digress!

Since 10am today we’ve been doing a Twitter Q&A for YoungMinds, the only UK charity dedicated to young people’s mental wellbeing and one of the 7 charities I’m supporting through 7 Wonders in 7 Days.

7 Wonders in 7 Days is a never-been-done-before trip to see all new 7 wonders of the world in 7 days in October.  The goal: to raise £777,000 for all 7 charities!  As you’ll find out shortly, I’m looking for 7 people to join me on the trip.

Anyhow, all day on Twitter we’ve been asking people to share 7 things that make life difficult and 7 things that make life easier. Join in by searching @7wondersin7days or #7w7d.

We’re thrilled that Isy has taken time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about 7 Wonders in 7 Days and about supporting YoungMinds.   Thanks again Isy.

Chi-chi: Which of the 7 new wonders of the world would you go to if you could only go to one?  Why?  They are Taj Mahal in India, Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru and Petra in Jordan.

Isy: Chicken Itza in Mexico cos it sounds a bit like a chicken restaurant and I really love Mexican food.

Chi-chi: Why do you support Young Minds?

Isy: I think it’s a really important organisation as it helps young people without patronizing them and also doesn’t label them all as the same.  It digs under the surface to really try and help young people.

Chi-chi: What are you up to at the moment?

Isy: I have just finished filming a new BBC2 sitcom called Whites with Alan Davies, and I’m currently filming the next series of Peep Show and am about to start a stand-up tour.

Chi-chi: What are you looking forward to the most before Christmas?

Isy: I cannot wait to go for a day out at Cosmeston Lakes in Cardiff

Chi-chi: Thanks Isy, that’s brilliant.  Do let us know when your stand-up tour starts!

So…. as revealed on Twitter by writer Matt King, the next series of Peep Show will be broadcast in November.

Just hear from @sambaintv (he what writes it) that Peep goes out on 26th Nov. – @MattKingTown

There isn’t much about Whites online, being as it is a brand new sitcom still in development but here’s a brief synopsis on comedy.co.uk.  It’s set in a restaurant; would be good to see ‘chef’ Alan Davies sparring with Isy Suttie!   As broken on Twitter, it will be broadcast next month.

Yes. Whites begins on BBC2 at 9pm on Mon 27th Sept. – @MattKingTown

Finally, to save you Googling, here’s a little more about Cosmeston Lakes.

If you’ve got any more questions for Isy, she is @IsySuttie on Twitter.  Follow her!

Speaking of Twitter, join us for the rest of our Twitter Q&A and for a chance to put your questions to future Formula 1 racing star and YoungMinds ambassador Jon Lancaster.

Here’s the rest of that YouTube interview.  Enjoy.

Would be lovely to hear again from Isy as the 7 Wonders in 7 Days project progresses!  We’ll keep you posted…

I’m looking for 7 lucky people to join me on the trip in October.

Get involved! Enter the competition to win a 3 day holiday to one of the 7 destinations.

How to Enter:

You just need to make a 60 second video or slideshow saying what you’d give one of the 7 charities I’m supporting in a dream donation and why.  Here’s a recent video entry.

Finally, can I please ask you to make a donation the 7 charities being supported through the trip, they’re all doing amazing work. Thank you.

Britain's hot racing prospect, Jon Lancaster

Yesterday we were thrilled to announce Jon Lancaster and Isy Suttie’s involvement in the 7 Wonders in 7 Days Twitter Q&A in aid of Young Minds UK.

In case you missed it, Jon Lancaster (@Lancaster4F1), Britain’s newest racing prodigy, will be joining us live to answer your submitted questions via Twitter and facebook; while comedienne Isy Suttie (@isysuttie) will be sharing her thoughts with us later this week.

In the build-up to Thursday’s live Q&A, Jon has also been kind enough to take time out from his training to answer a few questions for the 7 wonders in 7 days team.

Chi-Chi: Why do you support Young Minds?

Jon: I support Young Minds because I want to help young people get into sport. I feel that sport is a fantastic way to learn many of the things you need in life: discipline, focus, determination, the highs of success, and the lows when you have difficult times. Sport is a great way to get away from problems, help vent any anger or stress, and I feel that I was so lucky to find a sport that I hope to make an income from as well. I want to help as many people as possible do the same.

Chi-Chi: What are you up to at the moment?

Jon: For the past 6 weeks I have been doing a lot of physical training. Swimming, running, cycling, indoor rock climbing, gym, et cetera, in order to improve my fitness, hopefully for my F1 future – fail to prepare, prepare to fail, as they say. Also, I have been in many meetings with sponsors trying to find funding for the end of this year and next, and I think I have succeeded. I’ve also been doing some PR work for myself and a little for Renault F1 Team.

Chi-Chi: What are you looking forward to the most before Christmas?

Jon: I am looking forward to hopefully getting my first F1 test in December, as well as winning a few races before the end of the season as I have had a terrible time so far with break downs.

Chi-Chi: Thanks again for getting involved. Will you be sticking around for our Twitter interview on Thursday?

Jon: Yes that’s no problem. I will be around for the Twitter interview.

Chi-Chi: Fantastic, we’ll see you then!

Thursday’s Twitter event will be in aid of Young Minds UK and the 7 Wonders in 7 Days project.

The project aims to raise money for Young Minds UK and SIX other charities by giving YOU the opportunity to see one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Get involved by entering our amazing competition, by joining us on Thursday via twitter (@7wondersin7days) and facebook for our Q&A, and donating to our seven remarkable causes through Virgin Money Giving here.

Image Credit: F1Prospects.com