Deborah Fern
The Story of a Million-pound Donor.
Deborah Fern used to live in a rented two-up, two-down house in Derby. Her marriage had broken up, she had lost her job after suffering injuries in a car crash and she was struggling to feed and clothe her two young daughters.
With just £40 in her pocket and a business plan in her head, she was determined to change her circumstances.
Twenty years later she was a multi-millionaire who had been honoured with an OBE for her philanthropy and had fulfilled her childhood dream of ‘living in a big country house surrounded by wonderful trees and approached by a long sweeping drive’.
This is the email Deborah wrote to me about being a Major Donor to the NSPCC.
Dear Giles,
[…] One hundred thousand pounds!!!! I felt my cheeks flush, but I haven’t got one hundred thousand pounds: Who did this woman think I was? but I so wanted to help.
The woman in front of me had me hooked, If I didn’t do this children would suffer, how could I let this happen?
That morning I had read my bank statement, I was deeply in debt and business wasn’t good. But she looked at me and I said…’ yes Ill do it of course ill do it!!!’
Sitting at home later that day I worried: how, when, why why had I said yes?
I need not have worried, stepping out of my comfort zone was the best thing I ever did. Volunteering to help with the Appeal was one of the best things I have ever done: the fantastic people I have met, the wonderful places I have been, memories that can never be taken away from me. Sitting in rooms listening to people giving huge sums of money, wishing with all might that one day I could do just the same. and then it happened my prayers were answered, in 2006 my business sold.
What was the first thing I did? buy a house, buy a new shiny car a diamond ring No I gave £1million pounds to the Appeal. Why because I had to !! I knew I could make a difference to a child’s life. Now when I look back, and times are perhaps not as financially good as they were, do I regret it No I do not. Nothing can give me the joy it felt to be able to stretch myself, to challenge my boundaries’
The appeal made laugh, cry, despair, feel elation: being involved gave me more than I can ever give it I never wanted it to end.
Lots of Love Deborah
‘Full Stop Patrons’ Reception’