Clocking up miles for a good cause
A family- owned hotel group have been coining in charity funds through an amazing lockdown challenge.
Members of the SimpsInns team each completed a 21- day, 100- kilometre challenge – and they helped to raise over £ 17,000 for the NHS and local Ayrshire charities in the process.
The staff came up with the idea as a way to keep in touch and encourage each other to retain daily exercise routines, while raising vital funds for worthy causes.
It was a challenge embraced by all, including SimpsInns owners Karen and Malcolm Simpson, their sons Lee and Jack – and even their wee dog Maggie.
Karen said: “What started out as a bit fun quickly gathered momentum and here we are with a wonderful total raised that will hopefully help towards some very worthy Ayrshire causes at this difficult time.”
In the last three weeks, team members and Gailes gym members were invited to take on the challenge and help raise funds through the company’s JustGiving page.
Some got the trainers on and clocked up the miles, others got on their bike and cycled while the rest decided to walk it.
Family members from the same households also got involved as a target of £ 1,500 was set with funds going direct to the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board.
But the team smashed that target to raise over £ 2,000 – and Karen and Malcolm promised to donate a further £ 15,000 to help other Ayrshire charities too.
All monies will now go to NHS, Whiteleys Retreat, Irvine Cancer
Care, Centre Stage in Kilmarnock and the North Ayrshire Food Bank Community Group.
Karen added: “Our team really bought into the lockdown challenge and were so encouraging of each other. It was great for team spirit and morale while we all got our daily exercise. We’re really proud of everyone’s efforts.
“More importantly it was our small way of saying thank you to all the Ayrshire heroes, the key frontline workers at the NHS and elsewhere who continue to give their all to help keep the rest of us safe.
“We hope some of the local Ayrshire charities can also benefit too for it is times like these that community spirit really comes to the fore.”
Head to www. justgiving. com/ fundraising/ simpsinns- ayrshirescotland1 if you think you can top up the team’s total.