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It’s a typical February cold and chilly Saturday morning. The kind of Saturday morning where you’d hear the rain battering down on your window and yawn a sigh of relief that you don’t have to leave the house today. However, this was a special Saturday, one that many of us had been looking forward to.
What’s a bit of rain when VEGAN LIFE LIVE has descended upon us?
After a blustery, wet, and loooong walk up the hill, you’re met with a spectacular view of London from outside the iconic Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace). Where Heather had been numerous times in 2010 training for Dancing on Ice.
This time approaching the entrance a huge banner befell us:
“Welcome to Vegan Life Live 2018”.
Why love one but eat the other?
Heather says: "I know people are waking up to the benefits of a Plant based lifestyle but I was absolutely inspired by the queues"
Hosted by Vegan Life Live Magazine - the two-day event was packed to the brim with incredible plant-based exhibitors, the best in vegan cuisine, healthy snacks, protein powders, fashion brands, charities, beauty products, alongside live music and speeches from many professionals and big names in the plant-based community. Amongst those were Viva! Charity, One Planet Pizza, Bounce, Love Seitan, Fit Delis Protein, Earthling Ed & more.
Heather Mills was one of many innovative plant based entrepreneurs invited to make a speech on the Saturday in the Palace Suite. Due to the fact it would take hours for Heather to explain her 25 years in the Plant-Based community, an introduction to Heather’s diverse life, a tribute video (that you can watch here) produced by Plant Based News was played before the talk, providing a ten-minute composition of her history and the achievements and obstacles she has faced in getting to where she is now.
Then, dressed head to toe in green (for the plants….) Heather took to the stage and was welcomed by a huge round of applause. Heather said to the audience:
“I don’t prepare speeches in advance, I don’t write them down, so I never know what I’m going to say ’til the day”
The question of “raise your hands if you’re vegan” was asked and 90% of the room candidly put their arms up. “it’s a journey, it’s okay if you’re not” she politely said to one person in the audience who admittedly revealed they were “plant-curious”
“I’m not trying to change the perceptions of the vegans, I’ve got their interest, it’s about the carnivores, I want the meat eaters to be curious and experimental and to not have an argument as to why plant-based food tastes so good”
After discussing the trials and tribulations of going plant-based after her accident, the silver lining came about successfully starting the vegan business VBites. Questions filled the room as to what hurdles she may have faced in the beginning, which Heather answered honestly and gave some great general and business advice to new entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business.
Attendees of the talk hung around to talk to Heather after, to ask questions and get signatures. Social media was filled with wonderful words from those that attended too:
“Found @Heatherofficial incredibly inspiring in her talk @veganlifelive today. Thanks so much for the info and advice, and being so friendly! #what a fab advert you are for #compassionate #vegan living”
“in the front row watching @heatherofficial taking questions from the audience. Really good talk about veganism, nutrition and @vbitesfoods #vegan”
Heather writes a bi-monthly column for Plant Based Magazine talking all things plant – based and more anecdotes from her world. Keep an eye out for the next edition, online and on the shelves.
Check out Vegan Life Live’s next event in Manchester on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd April 2018 at Event City and Plant Based Live in September in London at ExCeL on the 8th and 9th September 2018.
If you are still discovering Veganism, like Heather was 25 years ago - check out Heather's full story.
'Til next time Vegan Life Live!
'Vegan 2017 - The Film', from Plant Based News:
"In this superficial world Veganism has to become hip, trendy, cool and fashionable".
Thank you Plant Based News for this film, and the work you have put in to make it. Heather appears alongside some extremely inspirational people.
We hope you like it.
VBites Nominated for a Vegan Award
'A new pop-up takeaway serving award-winning plant-based foods from ethical food firm VBites has opened in Vienna, Austria'...