ALMOST £10,000 has been raised by regional businesses taking part in Calvert Trust Kielder’s annual ‘Kielder Quest’ to support services for disabled people, their families and carers.
North East charity Calvert Trust Kielder welcomed nine teams, including Seymour Civil Engineering, Bellway Homes, Ward Hadaway and event sponsors Forfusion, for the corporate fundraising challenge which involved physical and mental land and water based activities.
Teams of six battled through the challenging weather conditions and instructor-led challenges, including ‘Float ya boat’, ‘Drop King’ and ‘Cooking Stones’, in a bid to take home the coveted first prize and Kielder Quest trophy.
The ‘Raising Ellie’ team from the Esh Group were declared the eventual winners while ‘The Ramarkables’ from ramarketing received a special award for displaying outstanding team spirit.
Ryan Cowell from the Esh Group’s winning team said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the Kielder Quest and will definitely return. The event was well organised and flowed efficiently with challenges catered to everybody’s various skill sets.
“This allowed each team member to shine in tasks which were to their individual strengths, rallying the rest of the team around this skill set, rather than one person taking the lead in every task. We’ll definitely be back to defend our title.”
Event sponsors Forfusion also had a team competing. Marketing executive Sean Ball said: “We had an absolute blast at the Kielder Quest! It’s amazing to sponsor such a fun and worthwhile event, support a local charity and have a great time in the process! This is the second year in a row we have finished in (a respectable) third place, so we’re eager to win it next time around!”
The event was supported by a team of volunteers from Northumbrian Water who assisted Calvert Trust staff with logistics, challenges and scoring.
Sales manager at Calvert Trust Kielder Hazel Ditchburn organised the event. She said: “Despite the weather it was another fantastic day and all of the teams and volunteers showed real spirit and determination getting out there, taking part and giving it their all. We’re really pleased that once again everyone who took part had a great time.
“And of course this is one of our biggest fundraising events so to have support from such a lot of regional and local businesses and to raise such a great amount of money for the charity is brilliant. £10,000 is a tremendous boost for Calvert Trust Kielder and our work with disabled adults and children. We are really very grateful to everyone who took part and supported the event. Thank you.”
The next Kielder Quest will take place in November 2016. For further information and to reserve your place visit www.calvert-trust.org.uk/kielderquest or call the fundraising team on 01434 250232.
For further information visit www.calvert-trust.org.uk/kielder.