Big Wigs raise a staggering £12,953.66 for local hospice

29 October 2009

Business people from across the city and surrounding areas celebrated their success on Wednesday night in the Big Wigs Challenge set by Sue Ryder - Thorpe Hall Hospice. The Big Wig teams celebrated at Thorpe Hall on Wednesday after raising over £12,000 during the challenge for the charity.

The charity which cares for people living with conditions such as Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Brain Injury, invited Peterborough firms to take part in a corporate challenge that started back in April testing their business skills. Each Big Wig was given £50, provided by Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P), some tips from Ruth Badger and were then asked to take the £50 away and make it grow over a four month period.

Emma Long, Fundraiser for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice said “It is breathtaking how much money the Big Wigs have raised this year for Sue Ryder, especially during a difficult time for the business community. All Big Wigs have worked incredibly hard to reach this total and it has been a pleasure working with each and every one of them. Sue Ryder – Thorpe Hall Hospice needs to raise £1million locally each year and so we are truly grateful for the hard work and support all participants have given. They should be so proud that they can help us help more.”

RSA Peterborough scooped up the “Charity Entrepreneur of the Year” award by raising a whopping £3,217.76 through various theme days and activities throughout the 4 months including a “Shades and Shorts” day and a Wii competition.

Fenmarc Produce Limited were so close to winning with £2,972.48 that they were presented with a runners up award. Their staff also got involved with lots of fundraisers over the four months including a football tournament and Fish & Chip Friday. Kristi Glowacki from Fenmarc Produce Limited said “We at Fenmarc are really pleased to have raised so much money for such a worthy cause. The Big Wigs challenge has been a great morale and team building opportunity for Fenmarc. The awards ceremony had a great atmosphere – and receiving our runner up award at the awards ceremony was a greatly appreciated bonus for us.”

The “Innovative Fundraiser” award was presented to Community Times Stamford for their “Guess the serial note number” competition, where they asked people to pay £1 to take a guess at what the serial note number was on the £50 they were given by the charity.Pat and Mike Smith from Community Times Stamford were very proud to hand over £634.04.

Pat Smith of Community Times said “it was a fun evening and exciting to receive the Innovative Award for 2009”

This year Global Rebar Services were presented with the “Charity Ambassador” award after promoting the work of the charity through a cause related marketing scheme. The company allocated a percentage of their revenue to the charity from five of their products. They also included charity details on all invoices they sent out to their customers. In total Global Rebar Service’s efforts amounted to £1454.19 towards the grand total.

Paul Smith, Global Rebar Service’s Managing Director, said, “We were delighted to pick up the award for Ambassador of the Year. As part of the Big Wigs challenge we spread the word about Sue Ryder wherever we could with our customers locally and nationally. We will definitely continue to support Sue Ryder and Thorpe Hall Hospice.”

El esha received the “Outstanding Team”, proving that they have a really good team sprit in their work place. The staff at the hair salon worked together to organise a huge charity party. This bunch of girls worked really hard together organising their party and insuring people attended. When you are around these girls you get a real buzz from them, there is a great sense of teamwork and you know that whilst they are working away they are also having a fantastic time. The girls raised a whopping £1581.54.

The final award of the evening “Outstanding Individual” was presented to Richard Jones from the Utility Warehouse. Richard organised a garden party to raise funds for the charity. He invited contacts that he had made, through his business and private life and the general public, to his home and was most hospitable to raise £507.20 for Sue Ryder - Thorpe Hall Hospice. Richard Jones from the Utility Warehouse said, “What an encouraging evening to be recognised for what you and your team have achieved in raising cash for a worthy cause. It was very good to hear the achievements of all who took part in the challenge. You realise that however much you raised whether it be a few £100's or £1000's you understand how vital the cash is. I look forward to next years challenge.”

Four other Big Wigs completed the four month challenge. Martin Bird photography raised a wonderful £1642.00 for Sue Ryder and purchased them a membership at the local BNI Synergy networking chapter to continue to support the charity throughout 2010. Martin Bird also took all of the official photos of the competition at no charge to the charity.

PJH Law in Stamford held monthly raffles, conducted a baby sweepstake and had a stall at Sue Ryder’s charity fun day back in July, resulting in a donation of £183.69. Minster General Housing Association donated £595.76, most of which was raised by the residents at Snowhills in Yaxley, and New Image Office Design, located in Whittlesey, donated £165.00 from a raffle with a posture chair as the prize, which Mike Nichols from New Image office Design donated himself.

Emma Long added “The evening was fantastic; it was great to see the Big Wigs being rewarded for their hard work. Even Ruth Badger, season two Apprentice finalist, who indorsed the challenge this year, sent a thank you message to be played at the awards ceremony. I would like to thank all the Big Wigs for taking part and the other companies who help make Big Wigs happen. Thank you to David Bird from DB Sound and Vision for filming the competition, to Martin Bird from Martin Bird Photography for taking the official photos, to Nick Smith from the Achievement Coach for supporting the Big Wigs over the four months, to Ruth Badger for endorsing the challenge and to Norwich and Peterborough for sponsoring the challenge and proving us with the money to give to the Big Wigs.”

Taking part in Big Wigs is just one of many ways local companies can support Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. For more information on Big Wigs or other corporate fundraising please call Emma in the office on 01733 330060 or email emma.long@Suerydercare.org

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