Poppleton & Appleby in recovery position after gruelling cycle challenge

BIRMINGHAM business recovery specialists are riding high after taking part in a mammoth cycle challenge in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Poppleton & Appleby invited staff and clients to swap their desks for a saddle and cycle 130 miles to mark its 130th anniversary.

Static bikes were installed at the firm’s Birmingham office on Ludgate Hill and a 14-strong team of competitors pedalled from 9am to 5pm to reach the target.

The team has raised more than £1,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital which supports thousands of children and families across the UK every year.

Matt Hardy, of Poppleton & Appleby, which also has an office based in Coventry, said: “Everyone was really competitive and enthusiastic to reach the 130 mile target with a number of our clients also joining in throughout the day.

“It was definitely different to our usual 9 to 5 but it was great to see all of the team helping to raise money for such a great cause.”

HSBC banking on a good time at Morrisons Great Birmingham Run

SOME 25 HSBC employees from across the country have signed up for the Morrisons Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge on Sunday October 18.

The runners will be raising money for various individual charities, however one runner, Sukhy Bhullar, has chosen to fundraise for The Lily Mae Foundation. This is in memory of his daughter, Keira Rocket Kaur Bhullar, who was stillborn in September 2014.

Runners from as far as Sheffield and London will be travelling to Birmingham on the day to represent HSBC in the Business Challenge.

Sarah Kerrigan, team coordinator, said: “We are delighted to be able to enter a team for the Morrisons Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.  Runners fundraise for many excellent causes and are hoping to raise as much as possible.

We are looking forward to putting in the best performance we can this year. Paul Coleman, from Birmingham’s commercial team, completed the run in an hour and 29 minutes last year, so hopefully he can top that.”

Leamington footballers kitted out thanks to Phillips 66

ENERGY manufacturing company Phillips 66 has provided kits for more than 400 players as part of its partnership with Leamington FC.
 
Its Community ‘Grass Roots’ sponsorship will see Phillips 66 support the Brakes’ 28 community and development teams throughout the 2015/16 Season and beyond. 

The sponsorship covers all of the club’s boys, girls, ladies, development squad, youth and under 21 teams. Players range in age from five to 25, with teams competing in leagues in Warwickshire and the central Midlands, as well as at a national level. 
 
Mary Wolf, deputy managing director at Phillips 66 UK & Ireland marketing, said: “The club opens up fantastic opportunities for all ages and abilities to be able to express themselves within a healthy and safe sporting environment.

“We know that the team relies on community sponsorship from companies such as Phillips 66, so we’re delighted to be playing a part in ensuring that the community and grass roots element offered by the club will continue to flourish for the benefit of the players and the wider local community.”

Marketing agency helps Stiliyan Petrov Foundation spread the word

SUTTON Coldfield-based marketing agency EDGE Creative has been tasked with helping The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation (SPF) increase the awareness of its mission.

SPF – founded by former Aston Villa footballer Stiliyan Petrov who was forced to quit the game when he was diagnosed with leukaemia – is a charity determined to improve the way leukaemia, and other cancers, are treated with the ultimate ambition of finding a cure.

The charity directly funds research, treatments and patient care, predominantly supporting University Hospital Birmingham, University College London and Birmingham Children’s.

EDGE Creative has taken an active role in helping bring awareness to the local business community across the Midlands through invitation-only events.

A recent SPF campaign, The Bigger Picture, rallied the support of local businesses to enhance a social media campaign which inspired people to appreciate the “small” things in life that sometimes get taken for granted, such as health, friendship and family.