It's been a long time between drinks (posts) - hope it's worth the wait :)

A few weeks ago, Johnny and I did our small bit to help raise some funds at the Sutherland Relay for Life. Numbers aren't finalised yet, but they'll raise over $500K for sure. This is Year 8 for me with this Relay event, being directly involved, and 11 years with RFL overall. I'm pleased and proud to have had a significant and real impact on the $$ raised in that time.

This weekend is the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. In the past, I've happily gone out door knocking for them.Not much raised and negligible influence.

Why am I so supporting of this event?

It's not because of the good works they do with the money raised. It's not necessarily because I agree with the Salvos religious convictions ( I did the doorknock about 10 times and I'm still an agnostic).

One recent anecdote sums up what  makes me feel good and supportive about this appeal.

While I've been to regional launches, especially Western Sydney, in the past, this year was the first time I was invited to the NSW Appeal launch event. Held at the Westin Sydney, with Andrew and Nicola Forrest as 'special guests'. Andrew and Nicola pledged $1M at the event and I believe that the 1,000 or so people in the room matched that.

At the event,  I saw a Salvo officer who looked familiar. I couldn't remember where I knew him from.

2 days later, I went to my local, inner suburban pub for a quiet drink after work, followed by dinner with Johnny. As always on a Friday evening, the Salvos came in to rattle the tin and collect some money. The Salvo officer was the same man I seen at the Westin event. We had a chat, I gave more money from my pocket and I wished him well.

I saw him AGAIN a week later when I attended a breakfast to launch the Red Shield Appeal in Rockdale & Kogarah.

Think about this - Wednesday lunchtime; organise an event for 1,000 attendees and raise $2,000,000. 48 hours later, do what you do every Friday night and maybe raise $50 at the local pub. 7 days later, help organise a business breakfast where a few thousand dollars are raised.

It's a single minded philosophy - NO amount is too small and the cumulative sum of many small amounts of money raised is what matters.

 Thank your God for the Salvos.