Chairman matched 10k run with 10k cash
 At a firm Christmas party two years ago, Mo crossed paths with esure chairman Peter Wood. As a keen anti-smoker, Peter wasn’t too impressed to find Mo with a lit cigarette in her hand.
He joked that if Mo gave up the nicotine then he’d buy her a Porsche.
Unable to ignore a challenge, and with the enticement of a brand-spanking-new sports car, next morning’s cigarette was the last Mo ever smoked.
Asthmatic
She said, “I’d taken Peter’s promise with a pinch of salt,
but I’m asthmatic and I knew the time was right to quit.
“I became more healthy and formed a running group with some of the girls from work
— we called ourselves the esure bouncers.
“I couldn’t resist bringing it up the next time I met him.”
Mo’s big chance came in September last year, when Peter returned to Glasgow for
a company conference. At the end of the meeting when he took questions from the floor, mischievous Mo’s hand popped up from the back of the room.
“Everyone had been asking questions about business issues,” Mo explained. “But I said, ‘Do you remember promising to buy me a car two years ago if I quit smoking? Well, I’ve given up now, so why am I still getting the bus to work?’
“The whole room was laughing, and Peter asked if there were any witnesses.
“So I said I’d make a deal and asked him to sponsor the esure bouncers for CHAS instead.”
Peter promised to get in touch with Mo after the meeting, but she didn’t know what to expect. She was stunned when a call from the chairman came direct to her desk the next day.
Generous
Mo told Peter the esure bouncers are to run the Glasgow 10k on May 15
— but was gobsmacked when Peter promised to match the distance with 10k in cash!
Mo added, “My mother used to be a midwife, so I’m really pleased we can help a children’s charity. I’m grateful to Peter — £10,000 is very generous.
“I don’t think I could have afforded to insure a Porsche anyway — even with my staff discount.”
Esure chairman Peter Wood is delighted with Mo’s charity turnaround. He said, “Three good things have come from that one little chat — Mo has stopped smoking, lots of people have started running and many children will benefit from their determination through CHAS.”
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Mo and the bouncers ready
for the starting pistol.
