CGM blog: Inspiring times

17 Nov CGM blog: Inspiring times

Chris Green, right, with Kate Dodge of Project Events and Strictly Worcestershire organiser Gerard Smith.

Don’t you just love pleasant surprises?

On Saturday I attended a reception for fund-raisers for the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign – essentially to wave the flag for Strictly Worcestershire (the charity dance spectacular that raises funds for the campaign and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer),  alongside the indomitable Gerard Smith (the driving force behind Strictly Worcestershire whether he admits it or not) and the truly talented Kate Dodge of Project Events.

Surgeon extraordinaire, Steven Thrush, thanked campaigners who had fund-raised their hearts out for this incredibly valuable good cause.

Champagne was laid on, certificates doled out and we were offered a personal tour around the prospective centre.

Not that this was glad-handing and vol-au-vent juggling among the well-heeled (which, frankly, too much charity fund-raising can focus on). These were real people whose personal stories of commitment, contribution and kindness could warm any heart.

It was truly humbling to sit among so many passionate people – and, never having attended one of these specific receptions before,  was something I wasn’t expecting.

There were women recovering from breast cancer – now raising funds to give others the chance to survive, retired folks who’d cycled from London to Paris (with little previous experience), children who’d set up donation stations at school, WIs whose coffee mornings and cake sales totted up to significant sums, not to mention the wonderful Tracey Jacob and her Dot’s Ditties poetry collection, oh, and many more.

Thing is, charity doesn’t begin at home – it belongs in the hearts and minds of ordinary people who combine to achieve extraordinary things and persuade others to join them. The Worcestershire Breast Care Unit is well on the way to becoming a reality – thanks to ordinary people.

“Everybody knows somebody” is the campaign slogan. Truly they do. This year, Teresa and I have seen so many people we know affected by cancer of one kind or another.  We ALL know someone..and we can ALL do something about it.

“Be the change you want to see in the world,” said Gandhi and, for me, Saturday morning was a life-changing experience.

At CGM, we already do our bit for help good causes of varying kinds – giving our time and our money where we can.

That will intensify in 2015, staring in January with an inspirational event which we reveal in detail soon.

Giving back will be at the heart of our business plan for 2015.  Being good and feeling good is okay – doing good is so much better. Bring on 2015!

Chris Green is CGM’s managing director and an award-winning author and journalist. CGM is an all round communications business proving media relations, media training, consultancy and coaching;  creative and publishing services to companies, business leaders and organisations.