Where it (the fundraising) all started

This weekend 15,000 women and men took to the streets of London as part of a charity walk. Not any charity walk, but 13 or 26 miles overnight, with everyone wearing a decorated bra. They were raising money for Walk the Walk – a grant-making charity who fund projects researching breast cancer and caring for women living with the disease.

The MoonWalk will always have a place in my heart as it’s where my fundraising career started. Nine years ago I was living in Woking (don’t ask), looking for temp work that would bring some cash in. An incredible agency took the time to ask me what my long term career goals were and I was offered a data entry job at Walk the Walk, processing donation forms.

At the time I was naive to how hard it can be to break into the charity sector, especially if you can’t afford to be a London intern.

It wasn’t glamorous (litter picking after working 24 hours), and it didn’t utilise any of my degree. But it threw me into the deep end of working in a busy, dedicated team of brilliant individuals with a unified desire to make the world a better place.

It saddens me that young people today are deterred from our sector. I want to be out in colleges and universities, to dispel any myths and offer support to the next generation of fundraisers. Who’s with me?

Today I gave £1,000 to charity

Last month I was given £1,000 by my bosses. Not a bonus, but a gift for others. And it was my decision on who to give it to.

Today Open gave £60,000 to UK charities. To mark this moment, we took the afternoon to share with each other who we’d each donated to and why. 

It’s never an easy decision but these are the charities who I chose to give to:

1)      Save the Children

Save the Children do incredible work, all year round and all across the world.

I’ve recently spent time with journalists and have asked them why only certain global events are reported in our media. How can it be in a digital and globalised world most of us are oblivious to the fact that 16,000 children die each day, many from causes that could be prevented? I’m not convinced by their response, but perhaps it’s a reflection of our joint responsibility.

I admire Save the Children’s dedication to all children, regardless of the front pages that day.

#EveryLastChild

2)      CND

In February this year I joined the thousands of people who took to London’s streets to protest against the renewal of Trident.

What struck me that day were the number of people (and particularly women) in the crowds who were old enough to be my grandparent. I imagine they were at Greenham Common in 1982. And to this day their dedication and belief in a cause hasn’t wavered.

We need more charities like CND who will speak up, organise, lead a movement and make real difference with their campaigning. Without them I fear our individual voices are lost in the noise.

@GNDuk

3)      Cats Protection 

This is Bramble

Our family took Bramble into our home when I had just turned 13. Last year we said our last good byes. Although a cat described as having ‘zero pet value’, I loved him. So this final donation is in memory of him.

@CatsProtection