Posted on 12 February 2021
A team of zealous runners affiliated with Oswestry’s Business Networking Group, BNI Rhythm, took on a monumental running challenge over January to raise funds for The League of Friends to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) and Hope House Children’s Charity.
Born from an idea that local business owner Carina Parkinson had, six runners pounded the pavements in order to run 10k a day throughout the whole of January – all while raising funds for two deserving local causes.
The epic journey taken on by the ‘10k a Day Team’ didn’t come without its challenges – the temperamental January weather, home schooling and Covid-19 lockdown restrictions to name but a few.
One runner, Jack Fallows, came up against it when he received a notification at the half way mark from NHS Track & Trace instructing him to isolate for 10 days.
Jack, a financial adviser for Herald Wealth Management, said: “Thankfully I was well, which meant I was able to put out a request for help, asking if anyone had a treadmill I could purchase – that’s when Dan Whittall from DW Clearance Solutions came to my aid!”
Dan’s company kindly donated and delivered, in a Covid secure way, a treadmill for Jack to use completely free of charge.
Jack added: “I’m very grateful that Dan’s generosity enabled me to push on with the arduous fundraising challenge – charities have been severely impacted throughout the pandemic and I’m really happy to have played my part in raising much needed funds.
“RJAH is also very close to my heart, since undergoing several procedures to reconstruct my shoulder I have been in awe, not only of the world-class treatment I received but of the genuine care and support provided by the staff. I attribute this to the hospital’s amazing culture, which is strongly influenced by the League of Friends.”
Dan supplied the treadmill with the intention of donating the proceeds from the sale once Jack no longer required it.
The sale of the treadmill took the total raised to an amazing £4000 – a fantastic achievement by the ‘10k a Day Team’.
Victoria Sugden, League of Friends Charity Director, said: “Undertaking the ‘10k a Day’ in January challenge is nothing short of madness! These extraordinary runners have gone absolutely out of their way to raise funds for us and we can’t thank them enough – hats off to them running in the cold, the wet and even the snow!
“I am particularly grateful to the members of BNI Rhythm, Carina, Rob and Jack who decided to do this and help us during what is an incredibly difficult time for charities. BNI Rhythm is a wonderfully supportive environment and just demonstrates how the business community can come together for a good cause.”
For more information on Oswestry’s Business Networking Group, BNI Rhythm, please visit: www.facebook.com/BNIOswestryRythm