Carlisle businesswoman aims to raise £2000 with Word of Mouth event
Sandra Holliday, owner and director of Choose Occupational Health, is hoping that a Word of Mouth Charity Ball at Carlisle’s Halston Aparthotel on Friday 3 March will raise significant funds for Mouth Cancer Action with the Oral Health Foundation. The event has been timed to coincide with the launch of her company’s new branding and identity and aims to be a night of celebration as well as fundraising.
“We’re hoping that businesses, friends, colleagues and contacts from across Carlisle will buy tickets for the Word of Mouth Charity Ball, sponsor us and donate raffle prizes so that we can easily reach (and ideally double) our target of £2000 for this really worthwhile charity,” says Sandra.
The cause is very close to Sandra’s heart as she sadly lost her mother, Brenda, to mouth cancer just over ten years ago.
“The care Mum got was wonderful and, over the years, family and friends have raised monies for the local organisations that helped and supported her but I didn’t really know about the Oral Health Foundation and its campaign while Mum was ill,” she says. “For me, launching a new name for my business is now a great excuse to raise awareness of mouth cancer prevention. Rather than focus on treatment, I like the focus that Mouth Cancer Action has on prevention, research and education. To raise awareness of the charity’s work and raise money to help them carry on that work feels really positive – rather than treating the disease I would love to be able to contribute towards stopping even one person having to suffer it in the first place.”
“I buried myself in the business after my Mum’s death,” says Sandra, “and that approach to my grief is probably one of the reasons that we’ve grown and become a success. Organising the Word of Mouth Charity Ball feels like a great opportunity to celebrate the strong woman that my Mum was, give something positive back and also raise awareness of a lesser-known cancer that can devastate lives and families.”
Anyone wanting to support the Word of Mouth Charity Ball at The Halston on Friday 3 March in any way can contact Sandra and her team via office@chooseoh.co.uk or on 01228 513687.
“We’ve got lots of opportunities for sponsorship as well as ticket sales,” says Sandra, “and we’re looking for all sorts of donations and support too. And, of course, we’re keen to spread the news by Word of Mouth!”