Turkey Challenge - Raising money for the British Heart Foundation
Contents
Why did we want to fundraise for the British Heart Foundation?
The British Heart Foundation has a very special meaning to us here. In February 2022, our Account Director Ceri, had to go through the unimaginable.
On a day that started out like any other, Ceri and her daughter Amber took a nice refreshing walk, whilst Bill, her husband went for a long bike ride. After returning from the walk with Amber, Ceri realised that Bill was yet to return from his bike ride. He really enjoyed cycling and really loved his bike - he took his fitness very seriously and liked to look after himself.
Ceri checked the ‘Life360’ family tracking app, which they all used, and noticed he had stopped along his route. A while later, Ceri checked the app again and could see that Bill was now at the local hospital. Realising the worst, but hoping for the best, both Ceri and Amber frantically tried to call his mobile.
Eventually, a paramedic answered Bill’s phone and explained that Bill had experienced a sudden cardiac arrest and was in the hospital. Which is where he stayed, in the intensive care unit for five days.
You see, it would be explained later, that Bill had a cardiac arrest whilst riding his bike and slipped into immediate unconsciousness and fell. A passer-by saw this, rushed to his aid, and held his head. Two other pedestrians then arrived on the scene and started to administer CPR and another person got a defibrillator from a nearby business. Between them, they managed to get Bill breathing and his heart started again – they continued with the CPR until the paramedics arrived. An air ambulance then took Bill to the hospital, but they would later find out that his brain had been without oxygen for too long.
Tragically, Bill passed on the 4th March 2022.
The Turkey Challenge
We convinced two of our management team to go head-to-head in what we named the 'Turkey Challenge'! They each had 72 hours to try to get as many votes as possible in a poll on LinkedIn.
The manager with the least votes at the end of the poll would be crowned 'the loser' and will have to spend the day, dressed up as a CHRISTMAS TURKEY doing challenges!
The person with the most votes would be crowned 'the winner' and have to film the loser doing the challenges which they'll be sure to share on our social channels!
The Winner: Sam Rudland
The loser: Mike Harrison
To set the loser a challenge all we asked, was for a donation on our JustGiving page with their challenge left in the comments section.
Our aim was to raise as much as we could for this really worthy cause and whilst we do it, we wanted to have a little fun too!
The Challenges
We had a very long list of challenges from our donators, and we promised we would have proof of those challenges completed. We have created a highlights video which you can view here:
Here is the complete list of challenges Mike completed on Tuesday 20th December 2022
- Tell turkey puns to shoppers
- What does a turkey eat for pudding – Peach Gobbler
- What sound does a limping turkey make? Wobble, wobble!
- What key has legs and can't open a door? A tur-key.
- What do you call a turkey the day after Christmas? Lucky!
- Can a turkey jump higher than a house? Yes, because houses can't jump!
- Ask to be directed to the Turkey aisle
- Buy mince pies
- Ask a member of staff where they can find the stuffing
- Buy a turkey
- Buy a VEGAN ‘Turkey’ Sandwich
- Sing and act out the 12 Days of Christmas Song
- Order an eggnog latte at Starbucks
- Hold up traffic with your baster
- 10 Burpees
- Star Jumps – As many jumps as there are donations
- Keepie Uppies – How many can you do!
- A cartwheel
- A minute of skipping
- Drink 2 x Cup of tea
- Make a fantastic festive snowman on a non-snowy day
- Eat a turkey dinner, saving two slices of turkey for Kato and Archie
Press interest
The unique nature of our fundraiser generated some interesting press interest, with local press sharing our fundraiser;
Mike also found himself live on BBC Radio Berkshire with a series of segments; you can listen to one of them here: Play BBC Radio Berkshire (Please note: Live recordings are only available for 30 days)
The result
We are pleased to say that we succeeded in raising over £1,100 in donations and we have it on good authority from the British Heart Foundation that we are fundraising heroes!
The Essential Agency - Turkey Challenge page was one of the most successful JustGiving pages last month. Out of thousands of fundraisers, you were in the top 15%. Congrats on raising so much for British Heart Foundation - you're an absolute hero.
- British Heart Foundation
We are very grateful to everyone who got involved and donated to this cause, especially to those who also set challenges for our giant inflatable turkey. Did you know, you can still vote - Just scan the QR code below!