Fearless fundraisers are feeling on top of the world after raising more than double their target with their mountain climbing-challenge, thanks to a large company donation.
Russell WBHO has given £3,500 to Chris’s Wanderers, the 12-strong team which completed the Three Peaks Challenge in April in tribute to colleague Chris Scotson who died last year.
This means the team is handing over a huge £7,032 to mental health charity Manchester Mind, the organisation nominated by Chris’s family to receive donations in his memory.
The hikers, who named themselves Chris’s Wanderers in honour of their friend being a dedicated Bolton fan, battled the elements to complete the three peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales National Park on Friday, April 22nd.
Gareth Russell, joint managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “Completing the Three Peaks in under 12 hours is a fantastic achievement, and the whole company is so proud of how much they’ve raised for the charity. Chris was a valued member of our team and everyone feels his loss keenly, and it was only fitting that we matched the hikers’ fundraising efforts to boost the overall donation in memory of a great friend and colleague.”
Joanna Huddart from Manchester Mind added, “We’re deeply touched by the team’s kind charity efforts in memory of their colleague and very grateful to Russell WBHO for their generous contribution. We raise all our own funds locally to keep services running, so thank you for making a very real and lasting difference to Manchester Mind through these changing times.”
The team comprised Harry Warburton, Matt Wilson, Jake Ogden, Joseph McHugh, Richard Barker, Liesel McQueen, Dan Murphy, Olivia Lea, Darren Williams, Lisa Cushworth, Dean Moran and Lee Hamer.
Olivia Lea, one of the organisers, added: “Thank you so much to everyone who donated, all our friends and family, our colleagues at Russell WBHO, clients, sub-contractors and suppliers, we are so grateful for your support. And thank you to the directors for matching our total and helping us to achieve this incredible total. It means such a lot to us and is a lovely tribute to Chris from his friends at Russells.”
Click here to find out more about Chris Scotson and the team’s motivation for the challenge, and to support the fundraiser please go to the Go Fund Me page.
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