Businesses Across Cumbria Prepare for Virtual Coast to Coast Corporate Challenge
On Monday, May 20th, 2024, dozens of businesses across Cumbria will embark on an unusual fundraising campaign – the Virtual Coast to Coast Corporate Challenge. This event is organized by the Cumbria Community Foundation and aims to raise money for local good causes.
Instead of walking Alfred Wainwright’s famous 171-mile route from St Bees Head to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire, participants will complete the challenge in their own homes, offices, or gyms. They can choose any form of exercise, such as walking, running, swimming, or using a static exercise bike or rowing machine, to record their mileage.
To demonstrate how the challenge can be completed and to encourage more businesses to join, employees from the Foundation visited the M-Sport test track at Dovenby Hall. They brought along a rowing machine and exercise bike and showed how the challenge can be completed in a different setting.
Dr. Jenny Benson, the Foundation’s Director of Programmes and Partnerships, stated, “Doing the challenge virtually means everybody can take part. You don’t need to book a fortnight off work and battle with the elements from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay – you can clock up the miles in your lunch break, taking the dog for a walk, or even in front of the TV if you have an exercise bike or rowing machine. Having six weeks to complete the challenge makes it much more inclusive. You can take your time and fit it in around your everyday life.”
Employees from the Cumbria Community Foundation have also taken up the challenge and plan to walk together during their lunch breaks and after work. Jackie Blacklock, a development assistant, shared, “Working for the Foundation, I get to hear about all the amazing projects and community groups that we fund, and I thought this was a great way for me to give something back.”
Several businesses have already signed up for the challenge, including WCF, Armstrong Watson, and the Centre for Leadership Performance in Cockermouth. Rhianna Smith, project lead at the Centre for Leadership Performance, attended the launch event at M-Sport and expressed her excitement to participate. She said, “To be honest, I’m not very prepared. But I walk my dog every day, and she’ll be delighted she gets a few longer walks. It’s incredible the work that Cumbria Community Foundation does. It supports so many different people, so many different communities. We’re really delighted to support them.”
The Foundation initiated this challenge to celebrate its 25th anniversary. While participants can sign up at any point, they must complete the challenge by July 1st. All the money raised will go towards the Cumbria Fund, which supports a wide range of charities and community groups, or to the participants’ corporate fund with the Foundation, if their company has one.
Chief Executive of the Foundation, Andy Beeforth, commented, “This is a brilliant way for businesses and our corporate supporters to raise money for local causes. We also hope it will be a fun way for companies and their staff to join together and give back to their community.”
Businesses that wish to participate can register online at https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/vc2c.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.