Is There Such a Thing as Selflessness?
I recall in school being told there’s no such thing as a selfless act and being struck by that. Surely, we all possess the ability to be selfless and it’s just whether we choose to or not? I believe wholeheartedly the work that our amazing fundraising folks do is selflessness in its most fundamental and purest form. Take the students from City of Glasgow College for example, who this past year organised a charity football match to fundraise on behalf of their friend, Scott who sadly passed away from suicide.
The students hoped this match would bring awareness and shine a light to the support and services available to men who may be struggling with mental ill health and thoughts of suicide. According to research by the Mental Health Foundation, one in three Scottish men have experienced suicidal thoughts as a result of stress.
I began my own Penumbra journey a year ago and have been amazed at people’s strength and generosity.
Amy, Sarah and Jack worked alongside Men Matter Scotland and the Co-Operative Community Fund Project to get the event up and running, with a raffle and some terrific prizes up for grabs. Events of this nature are crucial as they create a safe space for like-minded people to come together and showcase avenues for emotional support.
Sometimes, a career at Penumbra can inspire a fundraising challenge. This past summer Jay, a support worker in our Dunfermline Supported Living Service, set himself a goal… conquer The Tough Mudder. An endurance test, The Tough Mudder is an extreme obstacle course designed to push participants physical strength, mental grit and aptitude. Like Jay himself said when we sat down for a chat, “I have seen the work Penumbra do first-hand, both as a client and now a team member, and would like to give back.”
Our fundraisers stretch far and wide, from Aberdeen, Edinburgh to Dundee. Recently, Rachael began her ‘1 Million Steps for Penumbra’ to raise money for our new Hope Point centre. Rachael spoke openly about her own personal struggles with mental health and her desire to make a difference in other’s lives. Over the course of 50 days, Rachael will walk every day to meet her goal, one step at a time.
I began my own Penumbra journey a year ago and in that time, have been amazed at people’s strength and generosity even in the face of tremendous turmoil in our society. One of the first fundraisers I contributed to was Jordan’s Edinburgh Marathon diary. Jordan was training for the marathon as a tribute to his cousin Connor, expressing great admiration for the work we do here at Penumbra and with his donation and your donations, the work we’ll continue to do.
Thank you to each and every one of our fab fundraising folks!
Inspired? Visit: penumbra.org.uk/fundraising
