Pictured above: (l-r) Colin Shaw, Richard Whitehead and
Keith Daniell, The Media Group
Businesses across the region are being urged to take part in the
UK's largest corporate relay race and take the total raised for
charity soaring past the quarter of a million pound mark.
East Midlands Business advisory firm Cooper Parry, is looking
for teams to register for the Corporate Challenge 2011, now in its
ninth year, and raise money for charity.
For this year's race the firm has teamed up with a new charity,
The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, which will see the double
Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes herself putting teams of
runners through their paces with a masterclass in the run up to the
event. Money raised will go to support her charity -which creates
life chances for young people and gives them the chance to work
with, be inspired by, and learn from the experience of world class
sports stars.
Race organiser Melanie Campbell, said: "This year we are hopeful
of taking our total past the £250,000 mark and we are
encouraging teams from across the midlands to help us beat this
figure by supporting us.
We are thrilled to be working with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy
Trust. It's such a worthy cause and gives young people the support
and motivation they need not only in life, but also to carry out
their sporting ambitions too.
It will also give the teams an added bonus of being able to
attend a masterclass with double Olympic winner Dame Kelly Holmes,
and be motivated by other sporting personalities on race day, so we
are encouraging businesses to take advantage of this great
opportunity by entering the event."
Dame Kelly Holmes said: "I am delighted that my charity has been
chosen by Cooper Parry to benefit from this fantastic Corporate
Relay Challenge. We already have strong links in the region with
local business though our partners, Nottingham based The Media
Group.
"I am looking forward to us building on this and being able to
reach even more young people inspiring them through our role models
like Paralympic World Champion Richard Whitehead."
The relay event has raised nearly £215,000 over eight
years and comprises teams of five with each member running a leg of
about 2.5 miles.
It is the ninth year of the competition which will take place
alongside the Experian Robin Hood half marathon route on September
11 in Nottingham.
Last year the overall winner was Derby-based MMD Mining
Machinery Developments with second place going to Leicester-based
Coba Plastics.
Nelsons Solicitor were awarded the prize for raising the most
money for the official marathon charities; Leukaemia and Lymphoma
Research and Treetops Hospice for raising £1,457.
For businesses interested in entering a team, they can register
their entry up until August 26 via www.cooperparry.com
or by contacting Melanie Campbell on 0115 958 0212.