For getting on for 20 years I have been having frank, honest and sometimes uncomfortable discussions with clients about the ‘what if’ scenarios.
How would they cope if one of them lost their job, was long term sick, needed emergency medical treatment or died?
How would they feel if they had to move house, children had to change school or were not able to go to university because they couldn’t afford it because of one of these occurrences?
All the knowledge and preparation in world still doesn’t soften the blow however when the phone rings and a poorly client, or their loved one, is on the other end.
This has been the case for us on a number of occasions recently and whilst the financial provision has made the people left behind more comfortable and will allow their family plans to come to fruition, it still hurts when you lose somebody you would call a friend.
To help in some small way my business partner Jon Bingham and I are completing a charity bike ride in October this year.
We will ride over 300km of mountainous terrain in three days on a bike with a saddle the size of a Rivita!
We hope to raise £3,000 for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund and the Samaritans.
Given our industry the C word comes up almost every day and whilst diagnosis, treatment and survival rates are improving for most forms of the disease, pancreatic cancer is lagging behind terribly.
The statistics are shocking as it’s the fifth largest cancer killer, yet the survival rates haven’t improved in 40 years.
If you feel that you would like to help support the causes financially please visit my JustGiving web pages or pop into our office on Bridge Street.
This illness does not discriminate by age or sex and no-one is exempt.
Every pound to help support additional research is vital.