“To really shift things we needed to shake up the way we approach charity for (and with) the next generation—equipping young people with the tools and motivation to lead their own change.”
Part Three: Chapter 14Be a Purpose-led “Learning Organization”
By Holly Branson
Listen, Learn, Lead
In 2010, Virgin Money had just taken on the title sponsorship of the world's largest fundraising event: the London Marathon. To support them, and join the other 37,493 runners taking part, Sam and I tied ourselves to 32 tutu-wearing mates, to form one giant caterpillar.
Never a group of friends to do things by halves, over several beers (we weren't in training yet!) we decided, why just run, why not set a Guinness World Record while we're at it? The next morning, with slightly woozy heads, 34 of us woke to the realization we'd committed ourselves to setting the World Record for the largest number of people tied together to run a marathon.
It was one of the most inspiring, affirming years of our lives, from the training through to coming up with the plan of how to safely tie 34 people together for 26.2 miles, while wearing green tutus and keeping our antenna bobbing. Each of us believed we were part of something special. We were.
When we set the World Record on April 25th—a cold, crisp, sunny London day—we'd raised £250,000 for 12 very worthy charities.
As the blisters healed and the nipples ...
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