TAKE UP THE BIG WIGS CHALLENGE

I was contacted by Paresh Nar from Sue Ryder a few weeks ago to see if I could raise awareness of this fundraising campaign within the Hitchin business community.  They hope to get on board at least 10 businesses with the aim of raising £10,000.

Ruth Badger, one of the stars of the reality TV show ‘The Apprentice’, is challenging budding entrepreneurs in and around Hertfordshire to show off their business skills by turning a £50 note into a bumper pile of cash for Sue Ryder - Stagenhoe Park, near Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

Big Wigs Hertfordshire will run from April to July and has the backing of business guru Ruth Badger for a second year.  The feisty, straight-talking businesswoman who narrowly missed out on winning a £100,000-a-year job working for business magnate Sir Alan Sugar, and now runs her own business consultancy firm, said: “Sue Ryder’s apprentice-style appeal is a fantastic way to challenge budding entrepreneurs and to raise vital funds for the charity.                

“The Apprentice” continues to be incredibly popular with thousands of people tuning in to watch apprentices tackling a variety of challenges each series.  I’d like to urge all budding entrepreneurs to show the apprentices on the show how it’s done and put their talents to good use.”

All money raised from the ‘Apprentice-style’ fundraising appeal will help the healthcare charity continue to care for people living with complex conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, and Huntington’s disease.  The centre at Stagenhoe Park can accommodate 44 adults and in 2009 celebrated its 40th anniversary.

The challenge to the Big Wigs is to take £50 and, over a four month period,  make it grow as much as possible.

Sue Ryder Senior Fundraiser Paresh Nar said: “We don’t tell them what to do with the money; we just want them to think of an ingenious way to make it grow and give it back to the charity with substantial interest. At the end of the challenge period, we will be naming the ‘Sue Ryder – Stagenhoe, Charity Entrepreneur of the Year’, amongst other awards for imaginative ideas and promoting the work of the charity.

The Big Wigs will be supported by consultation sessions with a member of the Hertfordshire fundraising team who will help give fundraising ideas, attend their event or help with staff briefings.  They will also be given a fundraising pack to get their creative juices flowing.

Hertfordshire Big Wigs will be launched at Stagenhoe on March 29th, 6pm.
Paresh added: “By taking part in Big Wigs local people can help us continue to make a real difference to the lives of the people we care for each year from the local community.”

As well as the Charity Entrepreneur of the Year which is awarded to the person or team who raises the most money overall during the Big Wigs period, there will also the following awards:

Ambassador Award
Awarded to the person who best champions Sue Ryder - Stagenhoe, with a good understanding of the charity ethos, the care we provide and fundraising needs.

Innovative Award
Awarded to the fundraiser who has the most innovative or unusual fundraising idea.

Outstanding Individual
Awarded to the individual who stands out the most.

Outstanding Team
Awarded to the team who has worked the most effectively together.

So has your company got what it takes?  Can you take on the challenge?

To register to take part in Big Wigs, call 01438 871427 or email paresh.nar@sueryder.org