Challenge boosts funds for charity and staff morale
Colleagues from a leading safety barrier manufacturer have smashed their goal of collectively walking the distance from Nottinghamshire to Ukraine – 1,610 miles – and are now well on their way back, with days of their fundraising challenge still to go.
The team from Hardstaff Barriers, in Nottinghamshire, have already covered 2,300 miles, and are stepping up their efforts in the hope of virtually walking back to their office before March 31.
The team are determined to travel the final 877 miles before the end of the month and are eager to exceed their £1000 fundraising goal, in aid of the Ukraine war humanitarian appeal.
As well as raising money for this important cause, the company’s fundraising efforts are also supporting its commitment to staff health and wellbeing.
Kathryn Cooper, Head of Environment, Social and Corporate Governance, at VRS Solutions Group, of which Hardstaff Barriers is a part, said: “We’re delighted to have smashed our target of ‘walking to Ukraine’ already and are determined to make it all the way back again too.
“The team is doing a tremendous job. People are using the time to get out and talk with colleagues, friends and family and have said it’s been great for their mental health.
“The support they’ve shown to the Ukraine crisis and to each other during this challenge has been overwhelming.”
Helen Oakley, Commercial Assistant, at Hardstaff Barriers, said: “This challenge has meant a lot to me personally. My mental health has really suffered due to the Covid pandemic and I really distanced myself from friends and family.
“Hearing and reading about the crisis in Ukraine made me think of others and what they’re going through, not just myself. This gave me strength to finally meet up with friends who I hadn’t seen since March 2020.
“We completed an 11.6-mile walk in just over four hours and I know I would not have done this without their encouragement and support.”
Jules Saywell, Commercial Administrator at Hardstaff Barriers, said: “Watching the war in Ukraine is just awful. I cannot imagine what people are going through. I had to help in some way and knowing what an amazing team we have here, I knew we could come up with a plan.
“Come rain or shine, we’ve taken up the challenge of ‘Walking to Ukraine.’ What a fantastic effort – thank you to everyone for taking up the challenge and for the donations, Keep pushing – we’re nearly there!”
To sponsor the team, please go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hardstaff-to-ukraine.
“Watching the war in Ukraine is just awful. I cannot imagine what people are going through. I had to help in some way and knowing what an amazing team we have here, I knew we could come up with a plan.”Jules Saywell, Commercial Administrator at Hardstaff Barriers.
