When it comes to supporting meaningful causes, Leigh knows the power of going the extra mile - or in this case, an extra 196 miles. What began as a simple workplace connection to The School of St Jude, a close foundation partner of his employer TechnologyOne, soon grew into a personal mission to make a lasting difference.
Leigh first learned about St Jude’s when founder Gemma Sisia visited his workplace, accompanied by several alumni, to share more about the work and mission of the school.
“These were students who grew up without electricity, access to quality education, or clear opportunities to change the course of their lives. St Jude’s gives them exactly that chance and the impact is impressive,” says Leigh.
The experience struck a chord, and in 2018, Leigh traveled to Tanzania on a work trip, where he met students, shared career advice, and experienced daily life at St Jude’s firsthand.
“A girl named Nice showed us around the school and walked us through a typical day. Hearing how St Jude’s not only provides a world-class education but also instils a commitment to giving back to the community moved me to sponsor her on the spot. I always enjoyed receiving her letters about her studies, ambitions and family life,” he says.
Since this time, Leigh has remained a committed supporter of St Jude’s, and is now sponsoring a student named Amalia. But earlier this year, he took that support even further, taking on a personal challenge to raise funds for the school.
“A couple of years ago, someone told me about the longest single-day bike ride in the world, the Vätternrundan in Sweden. They didn’t think I could finish it, so I thought why not combine a tough personal challenge with something bigger by fundraising for The School of St Jude?”
Leigh started training in January for the 196-mile ride, which he successfully completed in June. The course was exhausting, with steep hills and long stretches that pushed both his body and mind to the limit.
“The final 37 miles were when the biggest hills hit, and to make it worse, I was riding with a knee injury from training just weeks earlier. I was taking anti-inflammatories to keep going, had lost one of my water bottles, and was feeling dehydrated. But every donation, and the thought of what it meant for the students, kept me pushing to the finish.”
His efforts raised £6,900, and a generous donor matched pound for pound, bringing the total fundraised amount to £13,800 (US$18,600).
“I was blown away by the number of donors and TechnologyOne contributing a significant amount too,” he says.
Reflecting on the experience, Leigh encourages others not to hesitate when it comes to taking on a challenge in support of a cause they care about.
“Just do it. I live a very fortunate life, and for me, riding 196 miles over 10 hours is nothing compared to the challenges many others face daily. A little discomfort can go a long way in changing someone else’s life,” he says.
That motivation continues through Leigh’s role at TechnologyOne, a company with a strong focus on social impact.
“Giving back is a core part of our culture, whether it’s providing scholarships for underprivileged university students here in the UK or investing in social value for the communities we serve. St Jude’s takes that same mission and amplifies it, dedicating itself entirely to educating children from disadvantaged backgrounds while helping to build their communities.
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