This last year has been a tough one with the effects of COVID-19 still going on. Lots of charities have also found it hard with fundraising events cancelled. So this year MPI have decided to help by donating in support of a member of the MPI team each month with their charity fundraisers.
The last few months have led to a triumph of fundraisers, ranging from mile long walks, to climbing high.
MPI Member- Katrina Dobson:
On the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd May, Kat from our purchase ledger team and her friend Jo took on the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge. This involved walking/jogging/running a total of 100km, split over the two days, with a night camping in the middle. They were raising money for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.
This is what Kat has to say about the experience "The overall experience was amazing and we feel so proud of ourselves for finishing- it was the hardest thing I have ever done(the hills will stay with me forever!) and the weather made it even more of a challenge! My light blue shoes will never recover from the mud..... So far the total raised is £2530.00. The Air Ambulance have told us that the amount we raised so far is enough to fuel over 20 trips, so that is potentially 20 lives saved. I can't believe that we have achieved this and would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support, it really does mean a lot. "
MPI Member- Dawn Hunt:
Dawn Hunt, our Rail Manager took part in an 18 mile walk from Letchworth to Welwyn Garden City to raise money for the Isabel hospice in Welwyn Garden City.
This is how Dawn explains the day: "On Sunday 11th July 7 of us took up the challenge to walk 18 miles from the fountain in Letchworth to the fountain in Welwyn Garden City in aid of a local hospice- Isabel. This was in memory of a friend who sadly passed away in April from a brain tumour. It was a lovely walk through the countryside of Hertfordshire and took just under 7 hours to complete with comfort stop breaks and picnic lunch in the grounds of Knebworth House. We all completed it with a few blisters and black toe nails and managed to raise a total of £2015.00. "
And finally MPI team member Alex Crammond who works on our price team:
Alex' mum Jackie arranged and co-ordinated this fundraiser for a very personal reason so its her we get to hear from about their incredible achievement:
"A year later than planned, thanks to the global pandemic, on May 19th, I climbed Ben Nevis accompanied by my son Alex and friends, Donna and Fyona. Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands is the highest peak in the UK standing at 4412 feet. We reached the summit despite heavy snow on the ground mainly thanks to our guide, Max Hunter of Hunter Mountaineering.
Our aim was to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK and the European Parkinson’s Therapy Centre in Italy, with whatever we could collect being split equally between the two. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in May 2018. The neurologist told me to avoid uneven ground as I was a “high falls risk “. My physiotherapist told me I could climb a mountain if I wanted to! So, in defiance of Parkinson’s, I chose to climb mountains !
First of all Mount Snowdon...........twice, Kinder Scout and Scafell Pike. But the ultimate was always going to be Ben Nevis.
It was tough, a real challenge but exhilarating to achieve and we managed to raise over £6000. Thank you so much to MPI as a company for giving us such a generous donation. We can’t express what that means to us and to the people it will benefit through supporting the charities. Thank you also to the individual staff members who added their own donations. Saying thank you doesn’t seem enough for helping us exceed our original target, but from all of us, a very sincere thank you!"
This last 18 months has changed so many things for MPI and our customers and colleagues but it is great that it hasn't changed the generosity, hard work, dedication and perseverance of all these incredible people who are prepared to do things for others. MPI are proud to have them work for us and do a little bit to support them.
Well done everyone!!!