COLLEAGUES at Stoke-on-Trent building products manufacturer Building Adhesives Limited (BAL, part of ARDEX Group), are taking on a ‘mammoth’ 25,000-mile charity challenge for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in memory of Avril Worrall, a former team member who sadly passed away from cancer.
The team at Building Adhesives wanted to do something to make a difference and bring people closer together in her memory.
‘Avril was a key member of the Building Adhesives and ARDEX Group R&D and quality team over 21 years and is sadly missed by her many friends and colleagues,’ the company said.
Joe Myatt-Winterton, QC controller, decided to organise a fundraising challenge in aid of Douglas Macmillan Hospice – the Worrall family’s nominated charity which did so much to support Avril during her fight.
Since February, people at the company have been encouraged to ‘Journey around the Worrall’, a play on the word ‘world’ – by walking, running, swimming, cycling or even rowing to complete 25,000 miles – equivalent to travelling around the world across the equator.
Anyone can contribute to the distance goal with any physical activity that can be measured in distance.
Joe said: ‘This is an extremely difficult challenge, but is designed to be challenging to raise as much money as possible for Douglas Macmillan Hospice, and to require we all come together to contribute – doing events and walks in groups to remember Avril and to try to provide a little happiness and support to each other; something
Avril always did for those around her.’
Individual miles travelled are added to the grand total which, at the time of writing, stands at 12,500 miles, which is more than a half of the way through their target, and are being measured by all sorts of available apps such as Strava, Garmin, Map my Run, Mapometer etc.
So far, a group of participants – colleagues and their friends and family – have reached just over one- half of their target, completing challenges such as running the Potter’s ‘Arf, cycling the Manifold Trail and walking the Roaches as well as lots of walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and even pedalo peddling.
The team says it’s eager for more people to join in and says donations will be ‘greatly appreciated by Dougie Mac and everyone taking part in the Journey around the Worral’.
People can support the challenge and keep updated with progress by donating via the Just Giving Page.
At the time of writing, the team had reached halfway towards their target, passing 12,500 miles.
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/journeyaroundtheworral
www.bal-adhesives.com
