Pro Installer November 2016 - Issue 44 | Page 39

39 PRO INSTALLER NOVEMBER 2016 PRO SPORT @proinstaller1 WOMEN TAKE ON TOUGH FUNDRAISER GM Fundraising is well known in the industry for its epic cycling challenges and it has just launched the next one. Peak performance from Mick GMFP2P is a bit different - not only is GM Fundraising introducing a paddle to its pedal, but this event is exclusively for the ladies of the industry. Paddle2Pedal will take place in August next year. The 12 strong all-female team met at headline sponsors Epwin Group’s offices in Telford, for the launch. “This is the first time GM Fundraising has organised a challenge for females only,” said Gary Morton, chairman of GM Fundraising. “Thanks to the efforts of headline sponsors Epwin, we have recruited a group of keen and competitive ladies to take on this challenge, which will see them canoe 100 miles and cycle around 120 miles, with an abseil thrown in the middle. “We are lucky that Epwin is also providing the canoeing expertise in the form of financial director, Mike Bache. Myself and Alan Sadler will be supporting the team with the cycling leg. “The team starts from Glasbury on 20th August next year. Over the next five days they will be averaging 20 miles a day in a canoe, paddling down the wilds of the River Wye. They will stop off at Bredwardine, Hereford, Ross-onWye and Monmouth, before finally arriving in Chepstow on Day 5. For those that are really keen to take on the additional challenge there is an abseil at Symonds Yat, although this is optional. “Day 6 will see the team commence the 120-mile cycling part of the challenge, ending up at Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry on Day 7. The children, for who this is all in support of, will be welcoming us home, making the perfect ending to what is going to be a tremendous event.” Mick Clayton, chief executive of training organisation GQA Ltd, has completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and raised £1,230. The money will go to Barnsley Hospice, and also to Reds in the Community, a charity delivering community activities on behalf of Barnsley Football Club. Mick completed the challenge for the second year running. The walk was organised by Barnsley Football Club, of which Mick is an avid supporter, through Kuta Outdoors. The Yorkshire Three Peaks takes in Pen-y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and has some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside, encircling the head of the valley of the River Ribble. After improving his finishing time on last year’s walk, Mick said: “I completed the three peaks in 11 hours, an improvement of just under an hour on last year’s time. It was a fantastic achievement as far as I’m concerned, due to a recent hamstring injury I’d sustained six weeks before the event, which left me with just four weeks to train. “By the time I got to the second peak, however, I had severe cramping but I was determined Claire O’Hara, divisional managing director of Epwin, and GMFP2P team member said: “I have followed the previous challenges run by GM Fundraising with interest, and have wanted to do an all-female event for some time. When we c ame up with the concept of Paddle2Pedal I couldn’t wait to get involved. I am grateful to the support of Epwin Group, who are completely behind their three members of staff taking up the challenge, and are also the headline sponsor of the whole event. “The team from GM Fundraising covered a very detailed plan at the GMFP2P launch, as well as setting a very comprehensive training plan for us all to start on over the winter. We will be hitting the water in the spring, when hopefully the temperature is a little warmer.” Gary concluded: “Each member of the team will be looking for support to raise much-needed funds for the children at Hope House Children’s Hospice. The team members are covering their own costs for the event, so every penny we raise will go directly to the children.” Meet the team via the website www.gmfundraising.co.uk and follow its progress on social media with #GMFP2P or #Paddle2Pedal Cycling challenge raises record funds to finish and raise the money for such worthy causes. I’m dead chuffed with myself for not stopping.” GQA limited is a professional, award-winning organisation, specialising in recognised qualifications covering the glass, construction, coating and printing industries. It provides training advice, support and qualifications to over 70 training centres and businesses throughout the UK. If you would like to support Mick’s efforts, log on to his just giving page www.justgiving. com/fundraising/MichaelClayton3 GM Fundraising’s Border2Border cycling challenge held in June this year has raised record funds for Hope House Children’s Hospice’s by beating all other previous events organised over the last 20 years. The team of 24 riders and support crew cycled from Canada to Mexico over 11 days covering 2,111 miles and 94,600ft of climbing, with 864,000 calories burned and 4,536,000 pedals turned (cadence). “All funds and pledges have now been collected and we are absolutely delighted to announce that the Border2Border challenge has raised a phenomenal £195,766.92,” said Gary Morton, chairman of GM Fundraising and B2B team member. “All of this has come from the hard work of everyone that took part in the challenge and of course, the support of our amazing industry. All the money raised goes directly to Hope House Children’s Hospices.” Andy Goldsmith, chief executive of Hope House added: “The support we receive from GM Fundraising is critical. Hope House is more than just a hospice. It’s a service and by providing support to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, our aim is to improve their quality of life in any way possible.”