Beard step out for charity

Intrepid walkers from Beard have raised over £6000 in aid of Prospect Hospice in Swindon and Sobell House in Oxford.

Two teams, one from the Swindon office and the other from the Oxford office, took part in the three peaks challenge to climb the three highest peaks in the UK in just 24 hours.

The Swindon team got off to a good start at the foot of Ben Nevis in Scotland, shortly followed by the Oxford team. That mountain over, the teams travelled to the Lake District to tackle Scafell Pike, before completing the trio with Snowdon in Wales. 

Sarah Parker, Beard Marketing Manager said:  "In spite of a few blisters, dodgy knees, and an extension of time (we did not complete the challenge in 24 hours!)  we all participated with a great team spirit and determination."

Gale force winds and torrential rain prevented some of the Swindon team from reaching the summit of Snowdon as conditions were too dangerous. 

“We were very disappointed not to have reached the top, but at the end of the day safety had to be our first priority, said Liz Anderson, Beard Swindon Office Manager.

We suffered from stiff joints and a few aches and pains, but overall it was a great experience for us all and a very enjoyable one. We had a good time and a good laugh along the way. I am not so sure that any of us will be doing it again!”

Both teams would like to thank all of the people who sponsored them. The Swindon team has raised around £3,400 for Prospect@Home.  Sobell House Hospice in Oxford will benefit from over £3000 raised by the Oxford team. Both hospices provide palliative care for patients with life-limiting illnesses together with a range of support services for their families. 

Stepping out for the Swindon team were: Liz Anderson, Paul Bridgman, Gavin Cox, Gemma Dunn, Ashley Robson, Marc Roberts, Martin Wareham, and Matthew McCrory. Their drivers were Martin Donnan and Dave Smith. In Oxford, Sarah Parker was joined by Gary Blake, Adam Brooks, Steve Colmer, Darren and Sarah Dawson, Nick Kent and Martin Nash. Keith Barratt and Colin Robinson were in the driving seats.

In June this year, staff, wives and friends of employees at Beard raised over £600 for Cancer Research when they took part in Race for Life.  For the 4th year running Beard supported Oxfordshire's Visual Arts Festival, ‘Artweeks’, by delivering catalogues and erecting a temporary exhibition stand in the Oxford Castle grounds.

Beard is also backing the bid for the regeneration of the Science Museum in Swindon. A public televised vote scheduled for the end of the year, will decide whether the project receives lottery funding.