Staff from the Stagecoach East Midlands Grimsby depot took part in a 100km walk to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation.
Driver Dave McMullan and his affectionately known ‘Strollers Team’, generated £8,470 by participating in fundraising challenges including the gruelling 100km walk.
The walk took place in September with the team made up of past and current drivers setting off from Putney Bridge London and finishing at Henley-on-Thames.
The Thames Path Challenge is an arduous, 100km continuous walk known fondly by regular Ultra Challenge Walkers as The Feet Shredder. The walk was in honour of one of Dave’s colleagues, Andy Taylor, who died from a heart attack in 2016.
Dave and his Grimsby gang have been fundraising for the British Heart Foundation ever since, coordinated by former driver, Johnny Kemp. The walk is just one of many challenges they have taken on in the past year.
The 11-strong team who completed the walk consisted of Kim Whitehead, Steph Davis, Paul Smith, Wayne Sandford, Scott Broadley, Nick Fletcher (all drivers from the Grimsby depot), Paul Topham and Johnny Kemp (former drivers), Richard Shortland and Rebecca Jackson (friends of Dave who take part in many of the charitable events).
The Strollers were joined on the day by avid-Ultra Challenge Walker, Jo Kemp, who agreed to help them achieve their goals and offer much needed support along the way.
Dave said: “This was one of the most fulfilling achievements of my life, both physically and mentally. To receive the adulation of my team members knowing that they had all given 100% in what was a phenomenal challenge, could not have made me more proud of this amazing Strollers Team and they are all nutty enough to have signed up for another one!”
Gary Burr, BHF’s Fundraising Manager for Lincolnshire, added: “We never cease to be amazed by the extraordinary ways people like the Stagecoach Strollers fundraise for the BHF and we’re incredibly grateful for the money they have raised.
“We urgently need more people to help power our life saving research in our aim to beat heartbreak forever. That’s why we’re calling on everyone across the UK to organise their own fundraising event to help support the vital work of the BHF.”
The money raised for the British Heart Foundation came from a culmination of charity events organised by Dave and the drivers at Grimsby including an annual cricket match, 24-hour dart-o-thon and the Thames Path 100K walk.
For inspiration and everything you need to organise a successful event, visit www.bhf.org.uk/yourway
