Lately, Austin Birks, Chair, Bus & Coach Forum, CILT and Champion of Busmark, has been busy rehearsing for a five minute stand-up comedy routine at the Glee club in central Birmingham on Sunday July 7th 2019.
Austin will deliver his routine in front of more than 450 people and CILT is calling for its members to support one of the Institute’s biggest Champions and personalities as he stands up to cancer. Austin will be one of 25 amateurs having a go and all funds raised from the evening will go to cancer research UK.
Back in early 2018 Austin was diagnosed with cancer. Over the last twelve months, he has been undergoing chemotherapy. In a special interview with Focus – July 2019 – Austin said: “When I was diagnosed I made myself a pact that I would refuse to give in to cancer or to let it impact my lifestyle significantly.
"The outpouring of support I have received has been unbelievable. The support from CILT has been great and reinforced the family ethos of the Institute that you don’t necessarily appreciate until you find yourself in my position. CILT has managed to build an Institute based on a caring foundation full of likeminded people that are willing to support you. Never give up, never give in.
"Ironically, I am the only cancer patient who is doing the stand up and Cancer UK have asked me if I would be prepared to promote fundraising after the event on a national platform apparently, and I would be delighted to promote CILT if the opportunity arises.”
Having been signed up to the comedy gig by his girlfriend, Austin has been getting some tips from a professional comedian to prepare him to step up to the mic. He said: “The journey has been extremely challenging, but also very enjoyable. It is obviously very daunting, but there is a bigger picture in that we are raising money for Cancer Research, so that we can prevent others from going through the same thing. It is very much a work in progress, but I am working hard to ensure that my five minutes in the spotlight does not end up in complete humiliation.”
CILT continues to support Austin in his fight against cancer and is encouraging any of its members, and friends and colleagues who know Austin to donate to his just giving page to help him and many others in their fight against cancer.
Austin says: “I have been overwhelmed by the goodness of people not just in the Institute, but also across all areas of the world I live in. The Institute has been particularly supportive from day one and it is very much a case of finding out who your friends are when the chips are down. I am confident that for anyone else in my position they would be supported in the same way and it just makes you appreciate the value of membership. It’s so important when battling through cancer that you remain positive, and that love and support you receive from people is a massive help during the process. I thank you all, collectively and individually.”
To donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Austin-Birks
Read more about Austin’s stand up journey.