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Colleagues from NRL’s Egremont and Sunderland Recruitment branches are taking on the AJ Bell Great North Run this year for two fantastic charities – Smart Works Newcastle and the West Cumbria Society for the Blind.
Joining over 60,000 runners at the starting line of this year’s event in Newcastle on 7th September, the team are now well into their training schedules – which provides its own challenge for those new to running competitions of this scale.
Raising money for Smart Works Newcastle
The Sunderland team chose Smart Works Newcastle having spent time volunteering with the charity in recent years. They’ve seen first-hand the difference their support makes to women in the region to help them back into work. The team knew they wanted to do something to support the charity because they believe every woman deserves the confidence to reach their full potential. After much debate they bravely chose the Great North Run.
Taking on the running challenge is Director Emma Lowden, Divisional Manager Lisa Jackson and Senior Recruitment Consultant Dan Scott.
Charity profile:
Smart Works provides professional clothing, support and coaching to unemployed women, empowering them for job interviews and beyond. Just one appointment can be life-changing, and the Newcastle-based branch have helped hundreds of women in the North East transform their lives and change their trajectory.
Fundraising for the West Cumbria Society for the Blind
Team Leader Nicola Ferguson and Senior Recruitment Consultant Ashleigh Watson are proud to be running the Great North Run for the West Cumbria Society for the Blind. Whilst Ashleigh is no newcomer to running, for Nicola the challenge as a running novice is an extremely personal one having seen first-hand the support the charity has provided her own family. When Nicola’s mum experienced sight deterioration which resulted in being diagnosed with a brain tumour, the charity’s support was remarkable - so both colleagues were keen to have a way to give back to them.
Charity profile:
The independent charity provides vital sight loss support for visually impaired residents in West Cumbria. From their resource centre they share advice and information, demonstrate specialist equipment and arrange low vision aids to improve the lives of their members. Whilst social groups and telephone befriending services provide important support when it’s needed most.
Supporting fundraising efforts with company match funding
Whilst the starting line may seem daunting, the running groups are spurred on knowing the difference the money they’re raising will make for both charities.
In addition to their own fundraising efforts, up to an additional £200 per colleague could be secured through company donations, thanks to the NRL Group’s match funding scheme. It’s a charity support scheme set up in recent years to reward colleagues for embarking on their own charitable endeavours, by allowing them to access a company donation from the £30,000 donation pot that is shared amongst colleagues working in the NRL Group’s businesses.
Getting ready to take on the Great North Run
Teams have been training together and on their own, demonstrating their commitment by even training when they’re away from home. The weather and picturesque scenery has certainly helped keep spirits up, and their grit and determination are fantastic to see.
We wish them all the best of luck as they enter the final weeks of their training, and we’ll be cheering them on when it’s time to head to Newcastle.