Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and SpinalCure Australia are urging business and employees around Australia to get involved in The Big Day Off, a fantastic new concept to raise much needed funds and awareness for people with spinal cord injury.
Getting involved is simple, businesses register on the Big Day Off website bigdayoff.org and donate a number of days off for their staff, who buy $5 raffle tickets through the site to win a Big Day off – a day off work that’s not taken out of their annual leave. It is a unique and fun way for everyone in the workplace to support a great cause.
The concept was inspired by James McQuillan, a 21 year old man with quadriplegia, who was injured during a routine collision in an AFL match in Albury. He hopes the Big Day Off will become a long lasting fundraising legacy for people living with the day-to-day reality of spinal cord injury and support the quest for a cure.
“When I was injured the whole community rallied around to support me and my family. It is wonderful how this has grown into an initiative to help others with spinal cord injury across Australia.” says James.
“To join in, anyone can go online and register their business or nominate their workplace. Then people can start thinking about how they’d spend their Big Day Off doing something they love, and spread the word on social media like Facebook and Instagram,” says James.
“The Big Day Off is a low-cost and effective way to support the vital services Spinal Cord Injuries Australia provides to people living with spinal cord injury and the research into a cure funded by SpinalCure. It doesn’t cost businesses anything to participate, all the administration is managed by the Big Day Off, and businesses can build staff morale and engagement by supporting such a worthwhile cause,” says Peter Perry, CEO of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia.
“SpinalCure and Spinal Cord Injuries Australia are so grateful to the Big Day Off. It’s such a simple and fun concept, created by some passionate people in a regional community inspired by James McQuillan! With the support of businesses from around Australia the Big Day Off could emulate fundraising successes like Movember and affect monumental change in the lives of people with spinal cord injury.” says Duncan Wallace, CEO of SpinalCure.
The Big Day Off initiative runs until 30 June 2015, with winners from each registered business being drawn electronically on 1 July 2015. To register your business or nominate your workplace, visit bigdayoff.org.au. Follow the Big Day Off on Facebook www.facebook.com/bigdayoffaus and Instagram instagram.com/thebigdayoff.