Posted:08-December-2020
Being part of a franchise family brings support when times are rough
When one of their network was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year, the InXpress network rallied round to support her. This included sponsoring her son, when he did a charity bike ride. Together, they smashed the target for Cancer Research UK, and local charities.
There are certain words none of us want to hear – especially from the mouth of a consultant when it comes to our health. As if 2020 hasn’t been challenging enough, there are people you may know, who embarked on a journey they weren’t expecting. People like Debbie Simpkins, owner of InXpress Liverpool, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.
Being part of the InXpress family of franchise owners, has enabled Debbie to feel the support of those around her, and messages of encouragement on her lowest days. As Debbie explains, “I have had so much love and support over the last few weeks, lots of lovely flowers/gifts/meals being dropped at the door. I feel truly very loved and blessed. I’m aware there are others who have much worse things going on, but without the same kind of support from the network I’ve had.”
So, when Debbie’s son, Ed, embarked on a fundraiser to cycle 300 miles in September, to raise money for cancer research, the network, “Ed is doing this bike ride for me to raise funds for cancer research. The email invitation for him to participate in the fundraiser actually came through to him on the day I was diagnosed. After talking about it, we both agreed it felt like it was the right thing to do, at the right time.”
Debbie emailed the network, sharing with them her news, and what Ed was planning to do. He would be raising money for Cancer Research UK, by cycling 300 miles – about 10 miles a day – throughout September. To put it into perspective,” Ed says on his fundraising page, “the longest stage/day of the Tour de France is around 123 miles; so not even half of what I am attempting.”
Ed initially set a target of £300, which he quickly needed to increase, “Literally I had a target of £300, which was hit within an hour of posting about it on social media. I upped the target to £1,500, which was hit before I’d even sat on the bike... £3k before the end of the September, became our new and ambitious target – £100 per mile.”
Debbie has now had surgery, and is almost through the subsequent chemotherapy, before starting a round of radiotherapy. She says she’s definitely felt buoyed by the level of support she’s received from her InXpress family. “Since I was first diagnosed with cancer back in July and we shared the news with family, friends, and colleagues I have truly never felt so loved and supported by so many. I realise I’m really lucky to have a fantastic network of people around me.”
And how did Ed’s fundraiser go?
With the backing of Debbie’s InXpress family, Ed’s employer – Edrington-Beam Suntory UK – and one of the company shareholders, plus family and friends, Ed raised a total of £15,135.00! “I’ve been blown away by the response of everyone, and I’m still receiving donations! There are being given to local charities, like the Marina Dalglish Charity, where I currently attend for my weekly treatments.”
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