i look at the time.
it’s 3.30.
i can’t sleep.
i am so full of adrenaline.
it feels like how i used to feel after a big ice hockey match.
i used to wake up and replay the game, play by play, and smile contentedly, but totally unable to sleep.
i have that same feeling now.
last night was a big night.
we launched our bbc.
bigmoose business club.
an idea we had, to bring together a group of our bigmoose friends and supporters, to meet each other, forge new friendships, and potentially do business together, but no pressure, just a room of lovely people with kind hearts.
we only had the idea less than a month ago, so we didn’t know what to expect, how many people would turn up, how it would go, whether we got the day right, the time right, or the concept right.
but we put our heads above the parapet, breathed deeply, and invited people to our party.
the fear of rejection, the fear of failure weighing heavily on us as we invited people.
that reputational risk crap that another charity had talked of started to talk to me, and i heard a little voice saying “this could fail” and “everyone will laugh at your failure” so i swatted the little imp from my shoulder, and continued inviting folk.
i’ll be there.
great idea.
i can’t make it.
varied responses, but generally the ayes had it, and our numbers grew.
and grew.
topping out at 73
which with such a short runway i was thrilled with, secretly i was aiming for 50.
as well as bringing our community together, we also wanted to share some news.
two pieces of news, both exciting and emotional.
we held the event at our offices (low cost, full control, hopefully big enough)
we had secured £500 from berry smith solicitors to sponsor a drinks reception, so designed a selection of cocktails and mocktails including the ‘berry smith’ creative huh?
the team were ready, all primed, and all with roles.
meeting and greeting and signing in at the front door.
meeting and greeting as you exited the lift.
then ready to greet and engage in conversation.
i questioned why we had embarked on this most uncomfortable of things to do as a natural introvert, but then i rationalised with myself that our purpose was bigger than any uncomfortable social awkwardness i might feel for two hours.
and so they came.
nobody, pretty much including me, knowing what exactly to expect.
we had a plan, but you know what they say about plans.
and more people came.
and the volume of voices literally drowned out the meticulously crafted playlist we had prepped and were playing, zero chance of hearing a note.
the cacophony of voices was crazy, but the thrill of seeing the room full, and people smiling and laughing was pride inducing.
we had invited people from 5-7, and planned to address the room at 6.
the first hour flew by, and chloe alerted me to the fact that it was time to talk.
my favourite.
as the room hushed to a silence, chloe and i thanked everyone for attending, and described what we had tried to create with the evening, and how we appreciated their support, and that we had two pieces of news to share.
the room was pindroppingly silent.
“since bigmoose was created, as of today, we have had 100 people tell us, unprompted, that we saved them from suicide.”
the room broke into rapturous applause.
as i hope you feel like doing as you read this.
you are bigmoose.
your help and support has helped us help 100 people have hope.
hope to live.
hope to carry on.
i love this journey we’re on together.
but there’s more.
“we also want to tell you about our next project” we continued.
as blog readers, you will know that in 2022 we launched project 1 million, and attempted to fundraise £1 million in one year, eventually managing to raise £1.16 million in 486 days.
well we have a new plan.
project 1 million.
2.0
only this time we are shortening the timeline.
to……………………………………
24 hours.
on november 29th 2025 we will attempt to raise £1 million in 24 hours.
so here’s the plan.
100 static spin bikes, with individuals or teams of riders, riding for 24 hours.
and every bike rider/team pledging to raise £10,000.
100 x £10,000 = £1,000,000
we have hired cardiff met an amazing local sports centre, got a staging company to provide staging, huge screens, a sound system, camera men, live streaming, and a small army of people to create the most memorable fundraising event ever.
so last night we announced it to our bigmoose business club. with the intention of getting people interested, and i set our team a target of getting two bikes signed up for the event, committing to fundraise £10,000 each, which i calculated to be a phenomenal nights work.
£20k in two hours is ambitious, but a great target.
so we announced the challenge, and the energy was fever pitched, as we asked, who wanted to join us on this adventure?
we had members of our brilliant team ready with laptops, to register, hopefully two or more people and we thanked everybody for attending, listening and supporting.
the event carried on, conversations continued, and eventually at 7.19 the last person left.
our whole team lay on the floor, exhausted.
an amazing night, but so adrenaline fuelled.
so the question i hope you are asking is “did you sell two bikes”
so i wouldn’t be telling this story if we hadn’t.
but how many did we sell?
be honest before reading on, how many bikes do you think we sold?
well, dear bigmoose blog reader.
in two short hours our wonderful team managed to sell nineteen bikes, yes nineteen, incredible eh?
that equates to one hundred and ninety thousand pounds committed, mindblowing.
so we’re off to the races, only 81 bikes left.
so, do you fancy joining us in november?
if you want a big challenge, either individually or as a team, drop me a line, imagine being in the room when the onscreen totaliser reaches £1 million, it’s going to be an amazing experience, close your eyes and feel it.
so, as i woke at 3.30 the magnitude of last night started to sink in.
we are going to do this.
people believe in the concept, so let’s make it happen.
thanks for reading, thanks for supporting, and i’ll see you back here next week.
blue skies,
jeff
