Glitz, glamour and giving back

On Friday night, I had the privilege of attending an incredible evening of glitz and glamour at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay. But this wasn’t just a party – it was a fundraiser for Big Purple Pants, a charity that’s very close to my heart.

Big Purple Pants supports women living with secondary breast cancer. As trustee Claire Byford said so powerfully on the night:

“There was lots of support for primary breast cancer, but nothing for us women who have secondary breast cancer – a cancer that isn’t going to go away.”

Claire, along with her friends Sara and Carol (who sadly is no longer with us), started with a simple coffee meet. That grew and grew until, earlier this year, Big Purple Pants became a registered charity – with a website and marketing that I was proud to support and gift to them.

Friday’s event was pretty much arranged single-handedly by Claire, with the help of the other trustees – Jenny, Holly, Sara and Malarchy, plus the generosity of local businesses who donated raffle prizes (including clients of mine Courts of Rayleigh, Attitude Wellbeing, Body Wisdom and Arella). Friends and family came together too, and it made for a truly special night.

This one meant a lot to me. Claire is a friend, and I admire her courage and “get it done” attitude. She doesn’t sit and moan about the tough days (and there are plenty of those), she channels her energy into building something that supports other women walking the same path.

Big Purple Pants also supported a close friend’s daughter through her cancer journey. Heartbreakingly, she passed away last year, leaving behind two teenage daughters and a devastated family. Writing this now still makes me emotional. We don’t always realise how lucky we are.

On the night, I saw people I hadn’t crossed paths with in years. My good friend and teammate Karen was behind the camera capturing key moments, and some of my other clients including Total Glazing Solutions and Byfords Food Hall (owned by Claire’s husband) who gave huge backing to the event. Most of these connections came to me through referrals and recommendations, and to be able to give back in this way felt incredible.

The programme on the night included a thank you that meant the world to me:

“Where would we be without Emily? She has been the rock of Big Purple Pants, supporting us every step of the way – from our logo and social media to the design and build of our incredible website. All of this has been gifted through her kindness, talent and incredible generosity and we simply cannot thank her enough.”

Honestly? That’s the loveliest compliment I could ever receive. It’s proof that whether it’s paid work or time I’ve given freely, recommendations are the strongest way to grow and build credibility.

Your Sunday School task this week

📌 Go out and get at least one recommendation. Share it on your socials, in an email campaign, or wherever your audience hangs out. Shout about your successes and achievements – because they show people the impact of your work better than anything else.

👉 If you’d like more straight-talking marketing tips like this, download my free guide: 3 effective (and totally free) ways to market your business today.

Reading this now?

This post was part of a weekly series I shared in early 2025, offering reflections and prompts for small business owners. If you’re reading this now and looking for more structure, accountability and guided planning (without overwhelm), that work now lives inside my Plan it. Do it. Grow it. membership.

EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP