EVERY year, the Inspire Business Awards makes a difference to a good cause – and today it can be revealed that the charity of the year for the 2024 event will be Sport Parkinson’s.
The decision to promote and fundraise for the charity is linked to Inspire’s support for former Hampshire and England cricketer Shaun Udal.
A month before turning 50, in February 2019, Shaun was informed by post that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s – a degenerative and incurable condition which leaves him with pain in his muscles, most acutely at night.
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Sport Parkinson’s raises money to encourage people with Parkinson’s Disease to live an active life as it has been clinically proven that exercise can slow down the progression of the disease and help sufferers to manage symptoms.
Shaun said: “I am delighted that the Inspire Business Awards 2024 will be supporting Sport Parkinson’s – this will be a big help in raising awareness of, and funds for, the charity’s work.
“Sport Parkinson’s organises unique sporting events, provides grants, raises awareness of the condition, and offers community support to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
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“I know how challenging it is to live with Parkinson’s, and I am keen to do what I can to support the charity’s efforts to reach more people, encourage more people and businesses to get involved, and to raise funds that will help people with Parkinson’s to live a better life.”
Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, which organises the Inspire Business Awards, said: “Shaun is a sporting legend in Basingstoke and Hampshire, and he is also well known to many people through his work over many years at Cotton Graphics, and his support for various charities.
“Destination Basingstoke and everyone involved with Inspire Business Awards 2024 is proud and honoured to play a part in supporting Sport Parkinson’s, and Shaun, on their mission to help people with Parkinson’s."
A total of 12 category awards and a Winner of Winners prize will be up for grabs at the Inspire Business Awards 2024 event as organiser Destination Basingstoke increases the number of categories and the breadth of the awards.
The 2024 awards, which will culminate in an awards dinner at Oakley Hall on Thursday, July 11, have attracted great support from previous and new sponsors.
Shaw Gibbs, the Basing View-based accountants and business advisers, is the new sponsor of the Large Business of the Year category, award-winning Basingstoke firm Centerprise International has come on board as sponsor of the Medium Business of the Year category, and 2023 Inspire Business Awards winner Basingstoke College of Technology is sponsoring the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year award.
Long-time sponsors Absolutely Offices, SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing) and Minuteman Press are all returning as category sponsors for the 2024 event, and other sponsors are set to sign up over the coming weeks. Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has also joined the roster of Inspire 2024 sponsors, and will be sponsoring the welcome drinks reception and networking event at the awards night.
The 2024 Inspire Business Awards categories, and sponsors so far, are:
Large Business of the Year – sponsored by Shaw Gibbs
Medium Business of the Year – sponsored by Centerprise International
Small Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
Wellbeing Champion – sponsored by SNG
Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Minuteman Press
Rural Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Basingstoke College of Technology
Business and Community Champion – available for sponsorship
New Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
Service Excellence – available for sponsorship
Best Place to Work – available for sponsorship
Sustainable Champion – available for sponsorship
Winner of Winners – sponsored by Absolutely Offices
Awards Night Welcome Drinks Event sponsor – Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Entry to the Inspire Business Awards 2024 is now open, and entry forms can be found at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/inspire.
The 2024 event is focusing in on businesses in Basingstoke and Deane, and all entrants must be based in the borough, or do more than 20 per cent of their business in the area, or have 20 per cent of staff that live in Basingstoke and Deane.
If any business or organisation wishes to join the 2024 roster of category sponsors, please contact Mark Jones, partnerships manager at Destination Basingstoke, on mark.jones@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk.
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