Having a ball, with my kind of heroes
I am a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy and usually avoid dressing up at all costs. But last week I was happy to make an exception after being invited to a ball for an amazing charity in Sussex called WOLO (We Only Live Once).
I’ve previously spent time with Justin, the joint driving force behind the charity, alongside his wife Fler. I couldn’t fail to be humbled and inspired by what they do, which has become their life’s work.
WOLO does something that really makes a difference where the rubber hits the road – helping families with young children who’ve been affected by cancer.
On my table was one child who has cancer and WOLO, among other things, had helped him live a dream by spending time with top chefs.
There was another family who had sadly lost their mum/wife to cancer and a family where, like me, the dad has advanced prostate cancer.
The charity helps with the mental side for all those touched by the disease, as well as stepping up in small ways financially where it’s needed, be it repairing a boiler or sorting a small family holiday locally to get away from the cancer cloud.
The event also gave me the opportunity to meet up with Matt and Neil who have just finished rowing the Atlantic for WOLO and Prostate Cancer UK, raising around £90k in the process.
Listening to their tales of monster waves, high winds, whales, dolphins and sharks made my adventures pale into insignificance and increased my respect for these two heroes.
But the most poignant moment for me was when the 500 people at the ball all stood up, united, because, in some way, they had been affected by cancer.
It’s why I never stop what I do. And why crazy people like Matt and Neil rowed the Atlantic and why Justin and Fler spend their time trying to make other people’s lives better.
If you wish to do something to help this small charity carry on doing what it does, please go to wolofoundation.org. Or do whatever you can to make a difference to anyone who is struggling with their life in some way.
I listened to their tales of monster waves, high winds and sharks