We couldn’t let the occasion pass without a round-up of the exploits of our brave Team Playdale walkers who ALL completed the Keswick to Barrow (K2B) and Coniston to Barrow (C2B) charity walking races which took place last weekend. Their incredible achievements have raised hundreds of pounds for one of Playdale’s chosen charities for 2017, the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA); an incredible charity that saves lives across the North West of England by giving the gift of time. They rely on vital charitable funding to keep the service flying.
‘Walking to help them keep flying’
The K2B is 43 miles and the C2B is 21 miles long…neither are for the faint hearted so all our team members put in plenty of training beforehand!
Some members of Team Playdale
The day soon came around and the conditions were near perfect. At the crack of dawn alarms rang, trainers were donned and our fabulous Playdale staff support teams made sure everyone was at the starting lines in Keswick and Coniston bang on time. They would continue to provide fantastic support to each and every walker right into the evening, whether it was words of encouragement, a bottle of water or a handful of jelly babies!
Stephanie and Lisa, 2 of the amazing Playdale support team!
Every single member of our two teams completed their courses, showing incredible determination and spirit. This is no mean achievement! Camaraderie and team spirit shone throughout the whole day as everyone chatted, laughed, bonded and perhaps came close to crying at points. When morale needed boosting, someone was there to boost it. John Hamilton our Timber Shop team leader had his 15-year-old son Joel as a teammate on the K2B course. John says he could not have managed those gruelling 43 miles without him; he boosted and encouraged his dad all the way. Fantastic Joel!
Claire, Andrea, John and Joel from the K2B team
A hugely significant achievement from the day was from one of our C2B team members, Ben Hodgson who works in the Playdale Timber Shop. Ben did not walk…he ran…and he ran like the wind. He only went and finished in FIRST place running the 21 miles in just 2hrs 36m!
Ben Hodgson on the home straight
It seemed impossible to escape the dreaded ‘b’ word. Blisters were inevitable but some had them worse than others! Following the event, Monday morning at work saw plenty of hobbling, groaning and flip flop wearing as muscles & feet tried to get back to normal! Here are some of the team members proudly sporting their well-deserved medals. Huge congratulations and hats off to you all!
Sarah Thompson, Fundraiser at North West Air Ambulance charity contacted us after the event to say, “We were delighted to have the support of so many staff at Playdale Playgrounds Ltd, who took part in the K2B & C2B to raise vital funds to support our work. We really wouldn’t be here without people like you – and Ben’s win was the icing on the cake!”
If you feel that this amazing team’s efforts (and a winning time!) are worth recognition and a donation, there is still time! Click here to visit the K2B & C2B website and type in any name from the Playdale Team below. Collectively the team’s money will go to the North West Air Ambulance.
K2B Team – John Hamilton, Joel Hamilton, Angela Spencer, Claire Storey, Peter Cahill, Andrea Moorhouse
C2B Team – Karla Steenkamp, Sarah Spencer, Elizabeth Parrington, Amy Mallinson, Phil Rhoney, Nicholas Toothill, Ben Hodgson and Steffan Thomas
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