“Charlies and Brown” Cycle for Cancer Council Victoria

We’re not the sort of agency that’s afraid of a good challenge – even ones that require us to climb mountains. Steep mountains. This Sunday, JWT Melbourne will face a challenge in the form of a 110km bike ride in Cycling Victoria’s 2012 Netti Challenge held in Whittlesea. Thirteen staffers from across different parts of our agency have come together, riding as team “Charlies and Brown” to fund raise for Cancer Council Victoria.

We’re adopting the worldmade “go” mentality and pooling our efforts together to create a big fundraising impact. Our client, Cancer Council, sponsors the event and money raised goes towards their cancer research, world class prevention programs, and vital services for the 28,000 Victorians diagnosed with cancer each year. It’s an amazing cause and with the whole agency supporting us, we’re now just a few sponsors short of meeting our goal.

Our work with Cancer Council began earlier this year in February 2012. We recently launched an awareness ad called The Wait, which reveals a smoker’s inner thoughts as he waits in a medical room for test results. It’s a sobering experience to which many smokers can relate and our hope is to encourage smokers to act before it’s too late. This cause is something we felt was important to us, and getting involved in the event has helped us build a strong client relationship. We’ll be riding with the Cancer Council team on Sunday and it will undoubtedly further strengthen our team spirit. Plus, it’s helping us identify who the real ‘athletes’ are around the place! Hint: it won’t be those of us hobbling around the office next week.

Sunday’s ride is an unrelenting and undulating 110km long stretch. And if that isn’t bad enough, the first half is basically up a very, very steep incline. The good news is of course, that what goes up, must come down. We’re all hoping that we can kick back and let the downward slope take us home in the second half (unfortunately I have a feeling that it’s not quite going to work that way). Either way, we’re pumped about our awesome uniforms and in it for the great ride.

The “Charlies and Brown” team from JWT Melbourne includes:

• Michael Godwin (MD)
• Leo Ibrahim (IT)
• David Johnson (Digital)
• Emily Gould (Planning)
• Keith Nicolas (Creative)
• Josie Brown (Digital)
• Rhys Arnott (Account Service)
• Malcolm Brown (Creative)
• Peter Chapman (Account Service)
• David Noonan (Account Service)
• Matthew Silk (Account Service)
• Darren Evans (Studio)
• Craig Jacques (Studio)

If you’d like to support our team and donate to the cause, click here.

— Michael Godwin is JWT Melbourne’s Managing Director.