Over 300 UK Power Networks employees got ready to ramble – raising £40,000 in charity walk across London
UK Power Networks employees pose in front of the world-famous Battersea Power Station mid-way through their trek across London. Photo: UK Power Networks.
Over 300 UK Power Networks employees, including a group from their offices in Bury St Edmunds, took on a mammoth 20-mile Royal Ramble charity walk in aid of the Duke of Edinburgh charity.
Walkers gathered at Richmond Park, in West London. and finished at Potters Field Park by the iconic Tower Bridge.
Participants raised a whopping £40,000 for the charity on Friday, May 24.
Teams of up to seven people took part in the whole-day event with many participants using the firm’s “donate-a-day” scheme – which allows employees to give something back to charity by being paid to do volunteer work twice a year.
The first walkers home completed the trek in less than eight hours.
The Duke of Edinburgh charity provided fitness training notes and fundraising advice and along the course, participants were provided food and drink at various checkpoints.
The money raised will go to the Duke of Edinburgh Award charity that helps young people gain skills for their future.
Megan Harvey, from UK power Networks’ Bury St. Edmunds office, travelled to London the night before with her team mates Lauren Farrell, Emily Draper, Cail Horner, Coral Suttle and Bryony Sinnott to take part in the event.
Megan who works as a technical co-ordinator said: “Me and five others from Bury St. Edmunds were looking for a challenge after doing a fundraiser last year and then we saw the Royal Ramble.
“Instantly, we were all interested, and the DofE is a fantastic charity to do it for, it helps so many people.
“We held a bake sale and a dress-down day to raise funds for the walk and raised £260, alongside our own fundraising.
“To me, the environment is the most exciting thing because you’re all there for each other and you all cheer each other on. It’s nice to walk through London but it’s more about the community feel and the experience as team.”
Alex Sturge, head of media, communications and engagement, said: “Our first Royal Ramble has proved to be a huge success and it’s our biggest ever fundraiser with more than £40,000 raised for the DofE towards transforming young people’s skills and opportunities in life.
“It was amazing to see so many of our staff out enjoying the event, supported by colleagues back in the offices and out in the field.”
Alex McDowell, DofE director of fundraising, added: “We are delighted that UK Power Networks staff have taken on this incredible challenge to support the DofE charity.
“The money raised will help us reach even more young people with a life-changing DofE programme, enabling them to build the skills and confidence to take on today’s toughest challenges.
“UK Power Networks has been a dedicated supporter of the DofE since 2016, enabling 1,600 young people to access the Award. Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Royal Ramble.”
Factfile:
- The DofE offers young people, no matter who they are or where they live, the chance to learn new skills, discover hidden talents and follow passions they didn’t know they had.
- Each year, more than 300,000 young people start a DofE Award by volunteering in their local community, learning a new skill, taking part in regular physical activity and challenging themselves in an outdoor expedition.
- There are currently 545,000 young people actively working towards Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.
- Last year, young people gave almost 4.7 million hours of volunteering time through their DofE, with a value of nearly £25 million in worked hours.