Three Estates staff have completed the Three Peaks Challenge in memory of a former friend and colleague, and raised £732 for Pilgrims Hospices.
In August 2014, Lew Cogger, Paul Potter and Keith Margroave climbed the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, including Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. The team were supported in their 35-hour challenge – in memory of their former colleague Malcolm McClean – by driver Alan Hollister, also from the Estates maintenance team.
Lew Cogger said: ‘I can clearly remember Malcolm’s bravery in coming to terms with cancer, as well as the fantastic support that all the staff at Pilgrims gave to him, his family and friends. Malcolm passed away at Easter 2010, and it was then that the Estates team and I began fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices.
‘We started with a sponsored non-stop 60-mile walk, and this year followed by undertaking The Three Peaks challenge. During his time at Pilgrims, Malcolm enjoyed eating sausage rolls, so now around his birthday in May we hold a ‘Sausage Roll Day’ where staff bake sausage rolls, cakes and pastries which others make a donation for and eat.’
Rosie Bell, interim senior community fundraiser for Pilgrims Hospices, said: ‘We are so grateful for the Estates maintenance team’s continued support. The money they have raised could pay for a hospice bed for over a day, or over 73 patients’ daily meals, which is fantastic. A huge thank you also to the University of Kent who supplied the diesel and vehicle to make this challenge possible.’
This year’s Sausage Roll Day takes place on Thursday 7 May in the Estates mess room (opposite the main entrance to the Ingram Building) on Canterbury campus. Anyone who would like to make a baked contribution or buy something on the day would be most welcome. On the same day, the Gulbenkian Cafe/bar will be selling a lunch special with a donation for every special sold to the Estates team’s fund.
To find out more about how you can raise money for Pilgrims Hospices, visit their fundraising website.