Stoford plodders win 40-mile charity walk

MORE than 13 hours after starting a marathon trek in aid of a national children’s charity, a team from Birmingham-based commercial property developer Stoford crossed the finishing line first.
 
The gruelling 40-mile endurance event saw colleagues Tony Nash, Dominic Stokes, David Brown, Matt Burgin and Alex Morgan demonstrate impressive teamwork, walking the Cotswold Way from Dursley to Cleeve Hill.
 
Starting at midnight, they walked through the night, watched the sunrise and carried on past lunchtime as they joined 30 teams taking part in The Plod to raise money to help Action Medical Research for children.
 
Alex Morgan said: “The weather was warm with some really heavy rain but that just helped to take our attention away from the pain of walking. It sounds like it’s a daunting challenge but actually it was fairly plain sailing and the key is to keep moving all the time.
 
“We were a little surprised to be the first to cross the finishing line, and delighted of course to be able to present the charity with £1,500 donated by Stoford in support of our efforts. We know it will help a very deserving cause.”
 
Action Medical Research aims to help reduce the high rate of premature births and improve treatment for sick babies, help children affected by disability and infections, and help develop therapies for diseases in children including genetic disorders, rare forms of brain cancer and blindness.

Chung Ying coms to the aid of Project TOM

BIRMINGHAM Chinatown restaurant group has helped Project TOM youngsters raise more than £40k for good causes

The group of local youngsters have used this summer to support a poverty-alleviation programme titled  ‘Happy Face’, in aid of Oxfam Hong Kong.

Project TOM joined forces with Birmingham Chinatown’s Chung Ying Restaurant Group to donate all their tips for the month – totalling £800 – to the  project.

Since 2008, Oxfam Hong Kong has launched two phases of livelihood improvement programmes in Qiaoshang Village and helped many families to increase their incomes via infrastructure improvements, livestock breeding and agricultural training.

The ‘Happy Face’ programme is now on phase three and the funds raised have gone towards purchasing educational materials and games for extra-curricular activities at the childcare centre, serving all of the villagers’ youngsters.

Legal eagle hopes to overcome obstacles for a good cause

A COVENTRY law professional is gearing up to take on a 10km obstacle course challenge for charity.

Keri Tucker, a trainee legal executive at Band Hatton Button in Warwick Road, is hoping to be crowned a muddy marvel at a Wolf Run event taking place at Welsh Road Farm in Warwickshire on Sunday, September 7.

Those taking part in the gruelling 10km contest will have to overcome a variety of off-road challenges including mud runs, trail runs and obstacle runs.

The 26-year-old, who joined Band Hatton Button in 2006, is hoping to raise around £300 for the firm’s sponsored charity, the Heart of England Community Foundation, which gives grants to support community projects across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull.

Keri said: “I am really looking forward to taking part in the Wolf Run. I like the fact that it’s not a typical road race and that you can get stuck-in to lots of different challenges.

“It’s definitely going to be a tough challenge though, particularly with all of the obstacles you have to tackle, but I have been taking part in a boot camp every week to try to prepare myself.

“As the Heart of England Community Foundation is Band Hatton Button’s sponsored charity for the year, it seemed a great way to boost their funds.”

Lodders seeks charity support for Big 10k race

RUNNERS from Lodders Solicitors are looking to raise as much money for charity as possible as the firm marks the fifth year of its backing for Stratford-upon-Avon’s Big 10k race.

The charity target is on top of the law firm’s doubling of its sponsorship commitment.

Around 1,000 runners are expected to sign up for the event on Sunday, September 14 which has Shakespeare Hospice as its charity partner.

Lodders is asking people to visit its JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/Lodders-Solicitors/

Steven Baker, partner, will again be leading the Lodders’ team of around 16 runners from members of staff and their partners.

He said: “The Big 10k is extremely popular and we are pleased that we are not only continuing our sponsorship but have agreed to double it.

“The Shakespeare Hospice does tremendous work and we are determined to raise as much for them as possible.”