Supercar entrepreneur takes economy drive to support charity
MIDLAND entrepreneur Eamon Gaughan has swapped his life in the fast lane to raise £1m for charity – in just four weeks.
The founder and chief executive of Birmingham-based international investment company JEEG Global Group of Companies is now half way through a personal challenge which has seen him live on just a fraction of his normal income to raise funds for The Christie Charitable Fund. To date he has reached a total of more than £130,000.
Gaughan, 33, made the decision to change his lifestyle when a close member of his family was diagnosed with cancer and passed away earlier this year.
His famine fundraiser meant reducing his living expenses to £800 per month and included taking packed lunches to work, not eating out, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, buying clothes or visiting supermarkets on a whim – to keep within budget.
All unnecessary non-business related trips overseas were also shelved and his high performance Bentley and BMWs were exchanged for a basic runabout.
Gaughan, who normally spends in excess of £50,000 a month, said: “Individually they may not seem massive sacrifices but together have totally changed every aspect of my life. I am fully aware that many people exist on for less than this every month but for me it has had a huge impact.”
JEEG Global Group, based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, was set up by Gaughan and his father in 2007. The group now comprises more than 30 UK companies and several international ventures including The Bullion Room, Europe’s premier precious metal dealer, The Torque Project supercar showroom in Digbeth and one of the UK’s fastest growing recruitment companies. Predicted turnover for 2013 is in excess of £1bn.
Gaughan said: “Through the success of the company we have been able to donate many hundreds of thousands of pounds to charities and good causes and this fundraiser will not have any impact on us continuing to do so.
“It has been a personal challenge for me and one I am totally committed to see through.”
Those interested in donating should visit www.eamongaughan.com/
