Staff at law firm Withy King in Bath have raised more than £13,000 for the Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal through their ‘summer of sport’
Since March they have been walking, cycling and climbing to raise funds to help the appeal to build a pioneering centre for the hospital.
Their fund-raising activities started with 10 staff completing the 13.1-mile Bath Half Marathon, followed in May by a six-strong team taking part in the 21-mile Walk of Life Corporate Challenge along the Kennet and Avon canal from Devizes to Bath.
A group of 28, including 16 from Bath, then tackled the Three Peaks Challenge on one of the hottest weekends of the summer, followed by their final sporting challenge at the end of June when staff took part in the 60-mile Bike Bath challenge.
They are now just over half way through their two-year fundraising commitment. As a ‘thank you’ to Withy King, staff at its Midland Bridge office were visited by Forever Friends Appeal’s mascot Big Ted.
Forever Friends Appeal’s Jo Common said: “The support from Withy King has been incredible. It is wonderful to see so many people take on such difficult sporting challenges – they all deserve huge congratulations, as people have been training for months to make sure they are fit enough for each activity.
“Taking part in sporting events with your colleagues really does boost staff morale and team spirit. We are so pleased to have been chosen as Withy King’s Charity of Choice – their passion for the cause is keeping them all going.”
Withy King partner Chris Kane, who took part in several of the charity sporting challenges, added: “The last few months of sporting activities have been physically and emotionally tough but we’ve really enjoyed the challenge
“Our ‘summer of sport’ has provided a great opportunity to get to know our colleagues better while raising money for such a worthwhile local cause as the Forever Friends Appeal.”
With the support of firms like Withy King, the RUH Cancer Care Campaign is raising £8.5m to help build a pioneering and urgently-needed new cancer centre.
The RUH treats more than 2,200 new cancer patients every year and although the clinical care is among the best in the UK, the buildings are no longer fit for purpose.
The RUH Forever Friends Appeal is one of three charities chosen in May by Withy King to support for two years. The others are Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Headway Oxfordshire. The firm also has offices in Swindon, Marlborough and Oxford.
To support Withy King’s fundraising ‘summer of sport’ visit http://www.justgiving.com/teams/WithyKingSummerofSport
Pictured: Withy King staff in Bath with the Forever Friends Appeal’s Big Ted mascot. Photo by Paul Gillis/paulgillisphoto.com
