A couple of years ago my son was in hospital for a few days and as we prepared to leave we passed Oliver and his family on the ward. Our families' paths had crossed several times previously and I was aware of what Oliver was going through but it was this night I was struck by how hard it must be to spend so much time in a hospital environment and to have to return to it so often.
Being a parent myself it's hard to imagine the drive and resilliance it must take to carry on under such extraordinary pressure and emotional strain. Sarah and Richard, Oliver's mum and dad have shown such dignity and their passion as parents and will to keep Oliver's memory alive inspired me to get involved. The Oliver Curd Trust is a charity that seeks to give happiness and moments of escape to children and their families who are experiencing difficult and trying times. I'm honoured to be involved and happy to help. If you've taken time to read this I hope you'll be happy to help too.
Working in a corporate environment, it’s easy to get caught up in the issues of the moment and to bury your head so deep in plans and forecasts that you tune out of everyday life.The same could have been said about me, until an experience which changed my perspective.
At a conference in 2007 one of my team asked if they could make an appeal. That person was Tracy Barnett, a Trustee of The Oliver Curd Trust. The next five minutes were to capture the hearts and minds of my entire sales team.
Tracy spoke passionately about Oli, a little boy who sadly none of us had the privilege to meet, but whose personality and determination resonated around the room that evening. By the end of Tracy’s speech there were few dry eyes, and our commitment to Oli’s charity was pledged. We’ve since raised over £25,000 for The Oliver Curd Trust.
It’s easy to take our health and wellbeing for granted. Raising money for the Oliver Curd holiday home enabled us to play a small part in providing vital support to families who need some release during periods of great emotional strain. It is my honour and privilege to be a Patron of Oli’s charity and I am committed to support it in any way I can.
