Gemma Siddle CFPTM from Eldon Financial Planning in Newton Wycliffe, Durham, in the north-east, is set to take part in the CEO Sleep Out event in Teesside next week to raise money for charity.
She has just become director of client services after 10 years at the firm and said she thought this would be “a socially responsible way to mark the occasion”.
Gemma, who has trekked the Andean mountains in Peru and the Amazon rainforest for charity in the past, has also skydived, bungee jumped and abseiled amongst other things, as shown below.
Gemma, the IFP Paraplanner of the Year 2013 and Chartered Paraplanner of the Year 2012, said: “I thought this event was particularly special as homelessness can cause people to fracture from society; it can be very difficult to step back into society when you are not able to contribute easily.
“The charity will use funds to run a not-for-profit restaurant to employ homeless people; giving people a sense of self-worth, allowing them to rebuild their CV and providing the independence to turn their lives around. A special cause.
“We change so many people’s lives for the better at the other end of the financial spectrum through our business – it is important to remember society has people in poverty who want to better their lives too.”
She said: “I haven’t done anything quite like this before. The charity was set-up to help Teesside/Middlesbrough - as a particularly destitute area - originally but now runs event nationally.”
Eldon undertakes charity fundraising every year (see pictures below), including abseiling from lighthouses and the Forth Rail Bridge as a team.
Last year some staff undertook the Stockton Rat Race but Gemma wasn’t able to join in due to maternity leave after the birth of daughter Holly Rose. So, she decided to do a fund raising event herself this year.
She said: “There is no known training for sleeping rough so I am a little apprehensive about the experience. There is no preparation involved and I will have to deal with whatever comes on the night, weather and all.”
On her promotion she expressed delight and said: “I am honoured and pleased that (Eldon’s co-founders) Joss (Harwood) and Tony (Connor) feel that I am ready and able to take such a successful, growing company into the future.
“They set up the company in 2002 and I was their first employee outside of family members. I am grateful to have been mentored by such excellent role models over the years and to be given the opportunity to grow and develop myself to this point.
“I have always been given their full support in following my own passions within the profession too; they have allowed me time to contribute to the growing Paraplanning profession and supported me in my mentoring of young people, promoting Financial Planning as a profession to schools and undertaking various charity fundraising.”
A month to go until my @CEOSleepOutUK fighting against poverty and homelessness. You can donate here https://t.co/510qu6m6XN
— Gemma Siddle (@GemmaSiddle) April 12, 2016
Teesside business leaders - join us for CEO Sleepout @pparkmuseum May 12th https://t.co/p2He8jE3Ha pic.twitter.com/Knodj6tecf
— CEO Sleepout UK (@CEOSleepOutUK) May 3, 2016