It was a marathon that began Mike Dickson's journey into giving and launched him into starting one of the UK's most unique charities.

Back in the nineties Dickson was running to raise money for a child who he had met who had cerebral palsy and had limited mobility. He was inspired to do something for her and any money raised from sponsorship would go towards a motorized wheelchair.

They made £9 but after the race, Dickson wanted to do more. He founded Whizz-Kidz, which provides mobility equipment for disabled children. 35 years later is it now the largest UK supplier of paediatric mobility aids outside of the NHS.

Dickson is also the founder of Rainmakers, which finds philanthropists and marries them up with charities that need financial support and of which Desmond Tutu was a patron.

The subject of giving is close to Dickson's heart and he is the author of Our Generous Gene and more recently How to Be a Better Human.

On this episode of The Profile he talks through his work's life, it's up and downs and why he thinks we are more blessed when we give than when we receive.

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Released on 29 Jan 2026