A weekend of charity fundraising

A weekend of charity fundraising

This weekend saw 11 VGC employees (plus two supporters) running a total of 112km for State of Mind Sport.

On 7 September Chelsey, Jason, Zena, Emma, Melanie, Patrick, Ellie and Alex (left) tackled 5km of Rough Runner.

During the night, Chris, James and Donatas tackled 10km of Nuclear Blackout (the 5km obstacle course twice round).

Joscelyn and Laurence after the Great North Run
Joscelyn and Laurence after the Great North Run

And on 8 September Laurence Mckidd and his daughter Joscelyn ran the Great North Run.

Between them, the teams raised over £5,500 for VGC’s nominated charity.

Laurence Mckidd, our managing director, completed the Great North Run half marathon in 2 hours 16 minutes. He and Joscelyn beat their previous time by 10 minutes, despite the hot sunny weather and a few blisters along the way.

Operations manager Chris O’Sullivan and labour managers James Burke and Donatas Jausicas raised an astonishing £3,000 with their overnight challenge. They managed two laps of the 5km cold, muddy Nuclear Blackout course, in the dark, with only head torches for light. The course included monkey-bars, slides, and wading through chest-deep mud – with the occasional drop where they went completely under!

James, Chris and Donny covered in mud
James, Chris and Donny partway through the Nuclear Blackout

The Rough Runners team consisted of Alex Dalton, buyer; Emma Mitchell and Chelsey Crabb, payroll assistants; Ellie Cook, training administrator; Melanie Clarke, procurement assistant; Patrick Alexander, IT analyst; Zena Wigram, marketing manager, plus friend Jason Kelly-Miles (who stepped in when Mitch Turbitt was unable to attend). Team members supported one another to struggle under, over and through the obstacles.

About the events

57,000 people registered for the Simply Health Great North Run, which was won by Sir Mo Farah. The route, from Newcastle to South Shields, covers 13.1 miles (21 km).

Laurence approaching the Tyne bridge
Laurence approaching the Tyne bridge

The Nuclear Blackout is a course of over 30 obstacles based in Brentwood. Our team did extremely well, finishing 121, 123 and 125 out of 670 competitors.

Mel, Patrick Emma and Alex
Patrick, Emma and Alex cheer Melanie on the ‘travelator’

Rough Runner was a five km challenge in Finsbury Park. Ten obstacles along the route included climbing nets, a ball-pit, ‘revolution’, and a ‘travelator’.

About State of Mind Sport

State of Mind Sport is a charity that harnesses the power of sport to promote positive mental health, and ultimately to prevent suicide.

Our fundraising efforts have raised over £4,250 to date. This additional £5,500 raised will allow them to visit even more community groups to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing.

If anyone would like to add to the sponsorship, please go to the the team JustGiving page.