Two of the AlphaGraphics team limbered up at the weekend to run the world’s biggest half marathon, The Great North Run, raising nearly £1,000 (and counting!) for vulnerable children and their families across the UK, for the charity Action for Children, one of our company’s chosen charities to sponsor in 2019.
Not shy of a bit of friendly competition, Sean Costigan (Director) and Phil Chapman (Regional Sales Director) went head to head in the race that saw more than 57,000 people take in some of the North East’s most iconic sights, all broadcast live on the BBC. The pair crossed the finish line with a time of two hours 23 minutes and 18 seconds, making it a tie!
The training itself was always going to be a hard slog but the boys were determined to raise as much as they could, knowing every single pound raised makes a massive difference to a child in need; as little as £5 pays for emergency overnight support for a young person on the street and just £10 a month provides a one-to-one play session for a child who has been abused.
Our Maintenance Manager, Tony, who nominated the charity, has been fostering children for over 8 years now with his wife Pauline who is the main carer, and has seen first-hand the tremendous work they do; “They always put the children first and it really feels like every penny goes where it will have the greatest impact on the children’s lives. It’s amazing to see the positive transformations in these children, many of whom have had a really traumatic start in life, normally through no fault of their own. It’s heart-warming to see first-hand the difference the charity makes.”
The charity helped reach more than 387,000 children, young people and families in just one year in the UK, across over 475 different projects and services; from running family centres, to supporting children in care, to protecting children from abuse and neglect.
It’s a charity close to our hearts at AlphaGraphics as it’s one of two charities we’re sponsoring in 2019 that have been personally nominated by employees. Sean Costigan added “We’re based in the North East with employees across the UK and it’s important to us to have at least one charity that also has such a widespread reach and can make such a positive impact across the UK.”
Every penny makes a significant difference to this incredible charity so if you’d like to donate please visit Phil and Sean’s JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/philip-chapman8
