Ball raises £10,000 as local businessmen get in gear for charity

SOME 16 of the region’s businessmen have raised more than £10,000 for Action Medical Research as they gear up to take part in a gruelling challenge to add to their total.

The Yoxalldads4charity are in training for a new event – Race the Sun, staged in the Brecon Beacons this month – organised by Action Medical Research, a medical research charity that helps sick and disabled children.

The event will begin with a 25-mile mountain bike section followed by a nine mile hike/run to the summit of Pen y Fan and Corn Du, then a two-mile canoe finishing with a further 30 mile bike. Starting just before sunrise, the challenge is to finish before sunset.

To help get them on their way the Yoxallsdads4charity held a ball last month in Yoxall, supported by a number of local businesses. The black tie ball saw exclusive prizes auctioned in aid of the charity including a Bradley Wiggins worn and signed Sky cycling jersey, tickets to a three-day Silverstone Classic Motor racing event in July and Leicester Tigers tickets and signed merchandise. In total the ball raised just over £10,000.

Simon Hunt from Yoxalldads4charity and a director at property consultancy  GVA, said: “We formed three years ago and have so far raised over £30,000 for local and national charities. 

“Every other year the challenge is about coming up with something bigger and bolder than the previous event – the last being The Three Peaks 24 hour challenge two years ago and a day of mountainous cycling, trekking and canoeing is certainly the biggest challenge so far.”
 

Surveyors saddle up for the 2013 Great Glen Dash

THREE employees from the Birmingham office of property consultancy Colliers International have helped to raise more than £20,000 for charity.

Holly Jackson, Edward Peel and Chris Bampton joined 53 other employees from Colliers International offices around the country to take part in a 125-mile bike ride to raise money for Cancer Research UK and the North West Children’s Support Group.

The team took part in the Great Glen Dash, a three-day cycling challenge across the Scottish Highlands from Oban to Inverness. Setting off from the Quay in Oban, the team crossed the finish line at the Waterside Hotel, Inverness after taking in the demanding terrain of the Highlands.

Jackson, a senior surveyor in the investment property management team at Colliers International, said: “The team trained exceptionally hard for the challenge and we are pleased to have helped towards surpassing the target of £20,000.

“The coast-to-coast route offered some great scenery but it was definitely gruelling at times.”

Murphy Salisbury’s very own Ironman prepares for gruelling challenge

A PARTNER at Stratford upon Avon-based chartered accountancy firm Murphy Salisbury is preparing to compete in one of the world’s most gruelling triathlon challenges to raise funds for charity.

Mark Bullock will take part in the Ironman UK event in Bolton on August 4, with participants required to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles and then run 26 miles, without a break.

Having been training since September 2012, Bullock is hoping to raise £2,500 for the Arrythmia Alliance, a charity which campaigns for greater awareness of heart rhythm disorders and aims to ensure that those affected by such conditions can access the information, support and the rapid treatment they need.

He said: “My aim is to raise enough to pay for a mobile defibrillator to be placed outside Stratford upon Avon Sports Club to ensure that this valuable life-saving equipment is available to anyone who needs it.

“I am grateful to everyone who has sponsored me so far and hope that others will help me raise as much money as possible for this extremely worthy cause.”