Pictured above: Members of the JSW team at Derby
Gaol
Fifteen staff from insurance specialists JSW braved a night in
Britain's most haunted gaol to raise funds for a children's
hospice.
The intrepid Newcastle-under-Lyme based fundraisers camped out
in the former Derby Gaol featured on cult TV hit Most Haunted.
The JSW Insurance Services team were challenged to take part in
a séance and a nerve jangling session on a Ouija board.
The fright night raised more than £650 to help ensure that
JSW achieve their target of raising £5,000 for the North
Staffordshire based Donna Louise Trust during 2009.
Nathan Walton, JSW's Managing Director and challenge
participant, said: "The gaol has been the scene of many executions
and is notorious for its eerie atmosphere.
"Many staff members felt a strange chill in the air but
fortunately everyone walked out shaken but unscathed."
Yvette Fielding, presenter of Living TV's Most Haunted, had to
leave a cell at the prison during filming after reporting feeling
sick and emotional.
At least one past visitor has reported seeing two men hanging in
a cell and many others say they have felt as if they are being
suffocated.
JSW Insurance Services has challenged staff to take part in a
series of events as part of a fund raising partnership with the
Donna Louise Trust which has a hospice for terminally ill children
in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.
Around £3,600 has been raised so far from events including
our Derby Gaol vigil, a sponsored weightloss, taking part in the
"It's a Splashout" event at Waterworld earlier in the year plus
several sponsored runs and various other office based
activities.
The fund raising drive kicked off in January 2009 with a new
year fitness challenge in which 15 staff pledged to lose weight and
raise money through sponsorship for the Donna Louise Trust. The
team lost a total of 16st.5lb, which averaged out at more than a
stone each.
Nathan Walton said: "The level of commitment from staff to the
fund raising effort has been phenomenal.
"Every member of staff has visited the hospice to witness the
great work that is carried-out and several have offered their time
as volunteers"
Nathan led by example completing the Potteries half marathon and
two 10km runs for the charity.