Our founder is a BBC Make A Difference Awards finalist, and it all started with a little row boat.

We’re proud to share that Nicky Allan, our founder, has been named a finalist in the Fundraiser category at the BBC Radio Northampton Make A Difference Awards.

It’s a nice moment to pause on, because for Nicky this isn’t a one-off. It’s what living life with purpose actually looks like, on the water and off it.

Nicky rowed over 3,200 miles across the Atlantic, from Lanzarote to Antigua, as part of the Atlantic Dash organised by Monkey Fist Adventures. Rowing as Team: Do The Thing with crewmates Stuart, Matt and Paul, the team has raised over £87,000 for Make-A-Wish® UK.

The row didn’t start on the water. In the months before departure, Nicky took the fundraising message everywhere she could get an audience, from the local parkrun to the pub to business networking events across Northamptonshire, making the case for Make-A-Wish UK to anyone who’d listen.

The row itself was never really the end goal. It was the platform. Since getting back on dry land, Nicky’s been showing up as a purpose-driven speaker: talking business, speaking at events, guesting with the local Rotary, and returning to Southfield School, Kettering (her old senior school) to speak at their awards night.

Nicky keeps telling the story because it matters. Hearing about one ordinary person doing an extraordinary thing is often what nudges someone else to back a cause, take on a challenge, do that thing they have been putting off or just show up for something bigger. And there’s more storytelling booked in over the coming weeks and months.

That’s the “why” behind Purpose Elevated, really. Purpose doesn’t stop when the challenge ends, it just finds its next audience. And it’s not confined to the day job either. Living with purpose is the thread running through all of it, boardroom to boat.

Huge congratulations, Nicky. Whatever happens on the night, you’ve already made the difference.

Winners announced 10 September at Royal & Derngate.

Book Nicky as a purpose-driven speaker

Nicky’s always looking for her next opportunity to share her story as a purpose-driven speaker. If your business is seeking inspiration for an event, conference or team session, get in touch: nicky.allan@purposeelevated.co.uk

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