Mintivo team sets 30-mile hospice challenge to raise vital funds
Employees from IT support services firm Mintivo will walk, run or cycle 30 miles between two hospices next month to raise vital funds.
The Chippenham business partners with Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley and Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, near Swindon. People & Culture Director Mark Adams said staff have been so inspired by their work that they wanted to do something to help.
“We’ve supported Dorothy House for almost two years and signed a contract with Prospect earlier this year. As we’ve become more involved with both, we’ve been increasingly impressed by the fantastic service they provide for families,” he said.
“We try to do one fundraising event every year. When we sat down to plan this year’s, we came up with the idea of travelling between the two. When we found out it was 30 miles, we realised it was doable.”
Around 20 staff and their families have signed up for the Hospice to Hospice Challenge so far, which will take place on 11th July. Participants can run, walk or cycle, and Mark said it will be more of a challenge for some than others.
“There’s a real mix of fitness levels and abilities, so it’s going to be a real test for some,” he said. “Quite a few of us recently completed the Couch to 5K challenge, finishing with Chippenham Parkrun, so that was a great introduction.”
The challenge will start at Prospect Hospice and finish around 12 hours later at Dorothy House.
“We want to make it as accessible as possible, so some people will cycle double the distance, run part of it or just join us for the last three miles. It’s all about raising money for these two amazing charities,” said Mark.
Part of the route will follow the canal towpath, and Mark hopes some Mintivo customers will turn out to support the participants.
“We want to raise awareness as well as money, so being visible is really important,” he said. “Hospices touch so many people’s lives and the support they give families is incredible. I don’t think many of us at Mintivo fully realised just how much they do.”
The company supports a number of charities, including Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, and Mark said it is only natural that staff working closely with charities feel moved by their cause.
“Giving back to the community as a team is part of Mintivo’s ethos and we love being close to the charities we support,” he said. “We’re inspired by the commitment and dedication of their volunteers.”
Mintivo staff have already raised £150 through National Football Shirt Day, with even those without a team allegiance borrowing shirts from colleagues. The target for the hospice challenge is £5,000, although Mark hopes to exceed that.
“We’ve set up a fundraising page and hope people will support us,” he said. “It’s a tough time for charities, with rising costs and increasing demand for their services. We really hope we can help.”
To support Mintivo’s Hospice to Hospice Challenge click here.
