Sales Manager Frankie raises money for Alzheimer’s Research UK
A daredevil fundraiser is gearing up to abseil 529 ft. down an iconic London landmark to raise funds for a charity close to her heart.
Francesca Girardelli (Frankie), from Fareham, will scale Broadgate Tower on 8th September, before descending the almost vertical skyscraper to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Frankie’s Dad, Adrian Girardelli was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 55, despite the family not having any history of the disease, and since then it has rapidly transformed the entire family’s lives.
Frankie will be supported by her colleagues at local organisation Allied Office Machines and partners at Ricoh EMEA, as they hope to raise as much awareness and donations as possible, to fund groundbreaking research to change the lives of individuals and families affected by dementia.
Frankie, 29, said: “When I heard about the abseil, my immediate reaction was, I have to take part. This was something I wanted to do for my Dad, but also for families just like mine. I believe with the right support, people can live very well with dementia, I’ve just watched ‘The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes’ on Channel 4 and it showed just how anything is possible!
“My concern is that with all the work amazing charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK undergo, this area of research remains extremely underfunded, and for that reason, I am choosing to face my fear of heights and raise vital funds and awareness for dementia research.
“Although this will be a huge challenge for me, it doesn’t compare to the daily struggles of someone living with Alzheimer’s or any kind of dementia for that matter. That’s why we must do everything we can to find a cure.”
Kate Moss, Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “I am blown away by how brave and determined Frankie has been in her fundraising efforts for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Our mission is to bring about a life-changing dementia treatment and it’s incredible individuals like Frankie who will help make that possible. From everyone at Alzheimer’s Research UK, we’d like to say thank you for all your hard work so far and good luck with your abseil!”
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the UK. Yet just half (51%) of the public recognise that dementia can cause death. The overall number of people developing dementia is increasing and this will continue to rise unless we find effective treatments to slow, stop and prevent the diseases, like Alzheimer’s, that cause dementia. Through improved public awareness, for example Frankie’s abseil, this will help to challenge the social stigma around Alzheimer’s. This will encourage more people to seek help when symptoms of dementia appear, while also building much-needed support for dementia research.
Ambitious Frankie has already raised just over £400 for Alzheimer Research UK and is determined to grow her donations. To help Frankie reach new heights, please donate to her Everyday Hero page here.
Celebrities everywhere are dusting off their designer frocks and tuxedos and are chattering about the awards season; and we at Allied Office Machines are joining in!
Salisbury Estate Agent HW White recently commissioned Romsey firm Allied Office Machines to carry out an audit of all their internal printing costs. The resulting report was very revealing and highlighted areas where efficiencies and savings could be made. Allied Executive Nick Folkes then put forward a proposal that has not only made all the internal printing 100% carbon neutral but has also saved them a whopping 21% against their printing expenditure. James Butcher co director of HW White commented “we were quite surprised at the findings of the audit and had no hesitation in accepting Allied’s recommendations”. Allied’s executive Nick Folkes commented “ many organisations are looking to cut costs where they can at the moment, print audits often reveal where substantial savings can be made, couple this with the fact that firms can further reduce their carbon footprint makes our offering an attractive proposition”
We recently conducted a survey of our entire customer base. These are carried out from time to time so that we can get a real idea of what people think of us. This helps us to identify areas where we can improve things even further. The results were quite revealing and we are pleased to report that 92% of our customers rated us as good or excellent. Naturally we were pleased with the response, however not being ones to rest on our laurels we shall continue to strive to improve all aspects of what we do. All customers who replied to the survey were entered in a champagne draw and we are pleased to announce the winner – Naomi Sebborn from the charity The Navigators, well done Naomi!