Cycling to work is a modern day health and environmental phenomenon, but walking to work – over 75 miles (!) – is what a team from Excalibur Communications has achieved, raising over £2,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
When colleagues of Excalibur Technical Director Graham Ford heard he was planning to trek from his home in the Welsh town of Croesyceiliog to the company’s HQ in Swindon as part of National Walk to Work day, they decided to keep him company. Setting out on Friday, on a journey that provided close encounters with an electric fence, coaches, caravans – not to mention being set upon by a large and angry herd of sheep, the group finally made it to work on Monday morning.
Walking in unexpectedly high temperatures, the group (that also included Darren Harper, Mike Hayden and Tony Jones were gradually joined by more and more Excalibur colleagues as they drew closer to the offices of the Managed Service Provider in Peatmoor, Swindon.
Graham Ford commented: “The air ambulance is such a great charity supporting so many people in Wiltshire and surrounding counties. I hope the money we raised will go some way to saving further lives in the future. I am very grateful to my work colleagues Darren, Tony and Mike for joining me along the entire route. Their support over the weekend was fantastic”.
Valerie Whistler, Partnerships Coordinator for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, added: “We are so grateful to these amazing employees from Excalibur Communications who overcame scorching heat, sore muscles and several blisters to achieve something not many would as part of their commitment to our 100 Club Airbase Appeal.
“Their support is helping us get closer and closer to securing our future by raising the funds we need to complete and equip our custom-built new airbase at Semington, near Melksham in Wiltshire. We need to raise £1.25 million to make our new airbase a reality, so if other businesses would like to get involved by joining the 100 Club, please get in touch with us by calling the Charity Team on 01380 739453”.
Between them, Excalibur’s personnel clocked up 477 miles, and are set to continue with fund raising in order to reach the £10,000 target it has set itself to help Wiltshire Air Ambulance in 2017.
