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HomeNewsVolkerFitzpatrick employees raise £15,000 trekking 100km along Britain’s oldest path

VolkerFitzpatrick employees raise £15,000 trekking 100km along Britain’s oldest path

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Eighteen VolkerFitzpatrick staff and relatives took part in the 100km ‘Race to the Stones’ event, the largest ultramarathon in the UK last weekend to raise more than £15,000 for two local charities.

VolkerFitzpatrick Race to the Stones

 

The intrepid team were among 2,000 walkers and runners who endured punishing weather conditions to trek the Ridgeway path between Lewknor in Oxfordshire to Avebury in Wiltshire. The money they raised will go to the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH) and St Elizabeth Hospice.

The event was split into two days with the team walking 50km each day. After several blisters and leg injuries the group crossed the line at the half way camp between nine and a half and 13 hours. After a much needed rest and hearty hot meal the previous night, the team set off on Sunday in search of their goal, the finish line at the 5,000 year old stone cycle in Avebury. 

The weather on the second day can only be described as ‘monsoon like’ but that did not deter the VolkerFitzpatrick team as they endured the driving rain to get 16 of the original team over the finish line in just under 14 hours.

Simon Massey, senior engineer for VolkerFitzpatrick and organiser of the challenge for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “We have taken part in several events in the past years but the Race to the Stones challenge was definitely one step further. Although the path covered beautiful scenery, it has been a physical and mental test for all of us to reach the finish line.

Kevin Berry, contracts manager for VolkerFitzpatrick added: “Despite some sore toes, legs and backs, it is truly a great achievement for everyone involved. On behalf of VolkerFitzpatrick, I am immensely proud of the teamwork and dedication of our group in raising money for such worthy charities.”

Hannah Walker, EACH Suffolk Fundraiser, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to the whole team at VolkerFitzpatrick for taking on this impressive challenge. The amount raised is truly fantastic and well done to everyone who took part. These valuable funds will allow EACH to continue the vital work we do caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia and supporting their families.”

Joanne Rodgers, events and challenges fundraiser for St Elizabeth Hospice said: “We are so excited to be part of this impressive challenge and are both extremely impressed with the commitment of the VolkerFitzpatrick staff and grateful to be one of the recipients of the monies raised.

“It costs millions of pounds to run the hospice each year with almost three quarters of that coming from the local community. This donation will help enable us to continue providing vital hospice care and support to more than 2,000 patients and their families every year.”

The Race to the Stones is not the first gruelling challenge that Simon Massey and several colleagues working on the USAF framework have completed. In recent years they have tackled the Three Peaks Challenge in 2012, the Care Construction Challenge in 2013 and a 230 miles bike ride in 2014.

To support the VolkerFitzpatrick’s challenge please go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/VolkerFitzpatrick

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