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IoD £10 Challenge supporting the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre

IoD £10 Challenge supporting the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre

When I was invited to be a Mentor and support this year’s IoD’s £10 Challenge by the Employability Team at Nottingham Trent University and, once again, have an opportunity to support the fabulous work of the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre at the same time I jumped at the chance.

Why would I give my valuable time?

The answer to that is three fold.

  1. I was inspired by Professor Robert Rees when I first met him last year and visited the Centre and I wanted to find ways I could support them.
  2. I love a challenge!
  3. And, I love working with inspiring young people.

I’ve known them less than a week and already Team BABMStars are doing awesome work and are an inspiration to be around.

Can’t doesn’t even feature in their collective vocabulary!

We can't - We CAN

 

 

 

 

 

If I can have a fourth, and purely a selfish reason, all of the above makes me feel good and there’s no shame in that when you’re doing good.

I think that is what gets called Win:Win !

 

What’s in it for the students?

They will gain valuable skills which will aid their employability including:

  • Teamwork
  • Leadership
  • Time management
  • Entrepreneurial activity
  • Influencing and negotiating
  • Fundraising
  • Reflection

All exceptionally valuable skills over and above their academic learning and very necessary when it comes to looking for a placement or their first full time role.

 

What’s in it for a £10 Challenge Business Mentor?

  • develop existing and new skills
  • share their business knowledge and offer guidance to a group of students; and
  • network with other like-minded professionals

As well as being great for my own professional development this project is also a good way to meet my own corporate social responsibilities (something large organisations have key people or departments for but not the case in a small business like mine).

 

MORE IMPORTANTLY 

What’s in it for the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre?

The IoD £10 Challenge raises funds for the Centre, a unique purpose-built scientific facility in the East Midlands.

 

The John van Geest Centre is making great strides into researching all forms of cancer, but with a particular emphasis on breast and prostate cancers as they are the most commonly diagnosed cancers for men and women in the UK today. That being said, they have made significant steps into developing treatments for ovarian cancer, brain tumours, melanomas, childhood leukaemia as well as a treatment which could potentially impact treatment for up to 60% of all cancers. They work closely with local hospitals in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby to try to help the 1 in 2 of us who are predicted to be diagnosed with cancer during our lifetime.  ( I in 2 OF US?  Blimey, that could mean it’s either you or me.  I sincerely hope it’s neither of us).

You can read more about the centre here and via their Facebook page 

An important point to note is Nottingham Trent University cover the overhead costs of the centre in terms of fundraising, marketing and administration meaning that 100% of any donations they receive are put to work on scientific research in the laboratory.  They very much rely on philanthropic support for a large part of their funding so any support you can offer is truly appreciated.

So, my call to action for you is this:

If you would like to donate a raffle prize and help Team BABMStars with this year’s £10 Challenge please let me know and I will connect you to them.

If you would like to buy raffle tickets do get in touch 

If you simply want to make a donation you may do so via the team’s Just Giving page 

 

The timeline for this year’s IoD £10 Challenge is:

27th October 2016 – Launch event (meet the teams and first planning session)

28th October – 4th November – Student planning time (Team BABMStars are well ahead of schedule on this one which is why I am so inspired by them!)

4th November – 7th November – Teams collect their £10 starter fund

7th November – 17th November – Just 10 days to turn that £10 into the largest possible profit with all the proceeds going to the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre

18th November – End of the £10 Challenge (although donations can still be made until 10am on Monday 21st November 2016 – please don’t use the Just Giving link above beyond that date but do keep supporting John van Geest in anyway you can.  I’ll be pleased to introduce you to the fundraising team)

18th November – 28th November – Students to produce a reflection board to review the challenge and their learning

29th November – Celebration event – Time to reflect with the groups and the winners will be announced for the team who raise the most money for the centre, the best reflective piece of work and the best press coverage.

If you’ve read as far as this I thank you.

If you can help in anyway please do get in touch

Thank you.

If you’re on Twitter you can follow the teams progress

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