Page 23 - Inspire Magazine 2019
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When it came to choosing its charity of the year for 2019,
it was a ‘no-brainer’ for Andrew and Simon Rigby, managing
directors of family-run business Rigby Financial, after their
mum, Pam, was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.
“It was just before Christmas,” recalls Andrew. She has remained positive and upbeat, even
“I was in the supermarket getting some last during those rough days after chemo saying,
minute bits when someone charged in, looking for “If I have to go through this for 3-4 months to
a defibrillator. get another 18, then it’s worth it.”
“Someone’s collapsed outside” they said. Being first Now we’ve begun to adjust, we decided to turn
aid trained, I went to see if I could help. When I our attention to fundraising. I set up a birthday
saw who it was, I couldn’t believe it. fundraiser on Facebook and, every week, we
do a ‘dress down day’ in work, where each staff
It was my mum. member pays a pound.
They initially thought it was her heart but a We’re also finalising our annual golf day. It’s
subsequent chest x-ray revealed a shadow on her always a great day and an excellent fundraiser.
lung. She was immediately sent for a CT scan and, This year, we’ve even got the opportunity for
by the time she arrived home, there was a call players to win an Audi in the hole-in-one
asking us to come back in for the results. challenge, courtesy of a friend of mine.
From the speed of the results, I knew it wasn’t We just want to raise as much as we possibly
going to be good news. can, as well as help raise awareness about this
disease.
It wasn’t. A biopsy on New Year’s Eve of all days
confirmed our fears. Mum had stage 4 small cell I think it’s really important for companies,
lung cancer. if they can, to give a little bit extra. After all,
we now know firsthand how important this
January was a blur. I think I spent most of the charity is in supporting those affected by
month crying. Not Mum though, she carried, lung cancer.”
and continues to carry, all of us.
INSPIRE 2019
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