8:24 pm, May 21, 2011
18 MEMBERS of staff from Volkswagen Group have signed up for a gruelling challenge in aid of charity.
Members from Volkswagen’s Financial Services (VWFS) and Volkswagen Group, will be taking on the 24 Peaks Challenge in July this year aiming to raise £10k for the armed services charity Remount. The challenge is to walk up 24 peaks in the Lake District in 24 hours total walking time, each one over 2,400 feet.
The 24 Peaks challenge will be undertaken over the weekend of the July 9, with the team starting at 5:30am on the Saturday negotiating ten peaks, covering 17.5 miles and with an estimated finish time of 10pm.
Sunday, will see a 5am start time and the remaining 14 peaks will be covered over 14 miles. In total the team will climb more than 13,000 feet which is over half the height of Everest.
Graham Wheeler, managing director of Volkswagen Financial Services said: ‘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.
‘The three peaks challenge is well documented but here we are always trying to think bigger. The route includes England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike, and promises to be physically and mentally draining on all those taking part.’
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.
Neville Barton, chief executive of Remount and ex-soldier, said: ‘We’re delighted that the team has decided to support the Remount charity and wish them every success. Our aim is to offer a handrail to armed forces personnel trying to return to Civvy Street, and having the support of Volkswagen Financial Services and Volkswagen Group is invaluable.’
The team have already undertaken training walks in the Peak District and Snowdonia to prepare for the challenge. To support the team, simply visit www.justgiving.com/VWFS24peaks
