GVE hike raises £1000 for Heart of Kent Hospice
On 26th April 2024, our intrepid team of quantity surveyors, programmers and construction industry professionals swapped site visits and hard hats for mountain terrain and hiking gear, taking on an epic fundraising challenge across the Lake District.
The team, who took on the challenge to raise funds for the Maidstone-based Heart of Kent Hospice, headed to Cumbria to set out on seven-hour daily hikes across two days on their mission to reach the summits of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike at 3,210ft (978m) and the 3.117ft (950m) peak, Mount Helvellyn.
GVE’s hiking team - Steve Goodwin, Luke Parham, Roger Williams, Clare Clifford, Jamie McKenna, Clyde Parasram and Naomi Sanger who were joined by friend and honorary GVE member, dispute specialist, Derek Crawford have raised over £1000. Thank you to GVE’s finance manager and driving hero of the weekend, Paul Chattenton who drove the 14-hour round trip to help make this event possible.
Some of the team found the challenge tough on the legs and tricky to navigate at times as the rocky terrain and physical strain put them through their paces. GVE’s director, Luke Parham said: “We undertook this hike to physically challenge ourselves as a team and raise funds for an important local cause. We appreciate every person who donated or supported us in this event to help us raise £1000. The terrain wasn’t always easy, particularly on the climb to the summit, but it’s a great sense of achievement when you push yourself to reach personal goals.”
Those who have previously tackled mountain hiking know the hard work is not over, however, when you reach the top. The descent can be just as hard, or even harder, on the legs than the climb up. The team carefully supported each other down - and enjoyed a well-deserved drink back at base!
David Dadswell, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the Heart of Kent Hospice said GVE’s team thoroughly deserve recognition for their efforts and support for the charity: “I am well aware that when local businesses take on these challenges to support their community just how much planning and training goes on in the background. The preparation required and the commitment shown by the whole team at GVE Commercial Solutions has not gone unnoticed, and I am thrilled Heart of Kent Hospice was chosen as a beneficiary of the challenge event.
The business community play a pivotal role in supporting the Hospice both by raising much needed funds but also by raising awareness of the work the Hospice do and the care we deliver within Maidstone and surrounding areas. We are all so very grateful to each and every walker and their support staff who gave up their time to get involved this fundraiser.
Reaching £1000 is a terrific achievement and will have help the Hospice to continue to deliver the care that’s so much needed for those with a life limiting illness.”
GVE has built a close relationship with the Hospice in recent years due to their innovative initiatives involving local people and businesses in Maidstone. We were also inspired to support the charity after hearing the sad news earlier this year that their collection and delivery van was stolen. We sincerely hope our donation will go some way to help support the vital work in the community.