A 100-strong team from Barclays Wealth and Investment Management took part in a ‘one day Step Challenge’ raising ?5,000 for Manx Cancer Help and Sport Relief.
The ‘Step Challenge’ was pioneered by local man Roger Davies, who in a bid to raise ?25,000 for Manx Cancer Help, set himself the task of completing one million steps in one year. He started his challenge in May 2012 and completed the challenge on 31st March 2013, finishing a month earlier than expected. Last year, Barclays Wealth and Investment Management employees joined Rodger on one of the final days of the challenge, travelling up and down the stairs at Barclays’ Eagle Court office.
This year, employees at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management followed in Rodger’s footsteps by completing 330,232 steps in one day. The total number of steps was boosted by inviting other companies who were involved last year to take part again.
Teams of four were given a 45-minute time slot to complete their steps. The winning team was led by Barclays employee Adam Boyde. His team completed 23,328 steps in their allocated time, closely followed by a team from Appleby, which achieved 22,032 steps, and then the team from Skandia, which totaled 21,924 steps.
Barclays employee Bal Jandu, one of the event organisers, said: ‘We had such fun helping Rodger Davies in his million step challenge last year that we decided to replicate the event, again raising money for Manx Cancer Help and also Sport Relief.
‘The challenge is an example of the wider Barclays citizenship initiatives that aim to raise money for charities, giving back to the communities in which we operate. We had a brilliant day; both the turnout and support received were fantastic and it was great to have teams from Appleby and Skandia competing with us.
‘We would like to thank Robinsons and Mannvend for providing refreshments and sports therapist John Barton for giving up his time to attend the event.’
Manx Cancer Help is an Isle of Man charity providing a range of support services available to anybody whose life has been affected by cancer. This ranges from friendship and informal support at weekly drop in days which also provides workshops, benefits and legal advice, to specialist psychological interventions provided through the Psycho oncology Service. This is delivered by fully registered therapists with specialist skills in supporting those dealing with a cancer diagnosis. There is also a complementary therapy service and a growing range of support developed in line with the identified need of those who use the service.
Sport Relief is a biannual fundraising weekend which sees the British public get active, have fun and raise money for people in need in the UK and further afield. Sports Relief has been in operation since 2002, and to date has raised in excess of one billion pounds.
Photo (L:R): Shaun Philips, head of Private Clients, Intermediaries and International Business, Ally Martin, Fund Raising Events Co-ordinator, Barclays employee, Bal Jandu, Simon Scott, Managing Director of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management Isle of Man, Andrea Chambers, CEO Manx Cancer Help, Barclays employees Neil Withers and Matt Derrick.
