Employees from High Wycombe company help raise £28,000 in Jurassic Coast Charity Challenge

Employees from a food manufacturing company in High Wycombe helped raise £28,000 for charity in the Jurassic Coast Charity Challenge.

On Friday 7th September 2018 more than 100 colleagues from food manufacturer Premier Foods took part in a walk along the 22 mile stretch of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast in Weymouth. The was was part of the companies annual Aim Higher Charity Challenge.

The participants in the walk were from Premier Foods factories and business functions based across the country in Lifton, Andover, Ashford, High Wycombe, Carlton, Worksop, Moreton, Charnwood, St Albans, Stoke on Trent, Manchester and Rugby. Together they braved the elements and raised a total of £28,000 for their charity partner, the mental health charity Mind.

Whilst taking in the stunning scenery during the walk, participants encountered steep hills, strong head winds and had to navigate safely around vertical drops. The walkers took between five and ten hours to complete the distance, whilst other intrepid heroes decided to run the course.

Premier Foods manufacturers some of Britain’s best loved brands including Ambrosia, Batchelors, OXO, Mr Kipling and Cadbury Cakes and employs just under 4000 staff.

Chief Executive Officer Gavin Darby, who ran the course, said: ‘I was delighted to see so many of my colleagues from across the country come together to take part in this important event, which helped us to raise a significant sum of money for our charity partner Mind.

We were very proud this year to partner with Mind to support them in their vital work. It’s great to know the money we’ve all raised today will help to support and empower those suffering with mental health issues through the array of services provided by the charity.‘

Kathleen Miles, Director of Fundraising for Mind, said: ‘We are delighted to be in partnership with Premier Foods and grateful to all their staff for taking on this challenge and raising a fantastic amount for Mind.

Their support over the course of this partnership will allow us to continue to be there for people who need it, when they need it the most. We look forward to working with Premier Foods to ensure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both the support and respect they deserve.‘

Five members of staff from the site in High Wycombe took part in the challenge.

Alasdair Tucker, Group Regulatory Manager at Premier Analytical Services in High Wycombe, said: ‘I was really proud to see so many other colleagues from across Premier Foods’ sites who were up for the challenge.

It was great to know we were walking for such a great cause and I was overwhelmed with how generous people were in sponsoring us. I did have a number of aches and pains, but the views were amazing and the weather was bright and sunny without being too hot.‘