3:23 pm, July 23, 2011
STAFF from Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) and Volkswagen Group have raised £19k for charity.
14 members of staff from VWFS and the VW Group took part in the 24 Peaks Challenge raising more than £19k for the armed services charity Remount.
The team climbed 24 peaks in the Lake District in 24 hours total walking time, with each peak being over 2,400 feet.
The 24 Peaks challenge was undertaken over the weekend of the July 9, with the team starting at 5:30am on the Saturday negotiating 10 peaks including England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike.
Day one involved 17.5 miles of walking and finishing in 12 hours and 35 minutes. Sunday, saw a 6am start time and the remaining 14 peaks and 14 miles covered in exactly 9 hours.
In total the team will climbed and descended13,000 feet, over half the height of Everest, in a time of 21 hours and 35 minutes.
Graham Wheeler, managing director of Volkswagen Financial Services said: ‘This is a fantastic result for the team, to raise so much money for Remount and to finish the challenge in such a good time is wonderful.
‘The entire company has been fund raising for months and we even had a visit from four soldiers from the Royal logistics Corps to encourage staff donations.
‘The team at VWFS have a history of raising money for charity last year 34 people cycled in the London-to-Brighton bike ride, raising £16k for the British Heart Foundation, this was a against a total of over £120k which was raised for a number of charities.’
Remount is a charity which provides help to Armed Forces personnel as they return to Civvie Street. The aim of Remount is to provide personnel of all ranks and status and their dependents with the psychological tools to manage the change in cultures which takes place when they resume civilian life and avoid illnesses such as depression.
General Sir Anthony Walker of Remount said: ‘I am full of admiration and gratitude for the team. The money raised will be invaluable in supporting the work of Remount allowing another 20 service people to benefit from the work of the charity.’
