A team of 112 industry volunteers including Gus Whyte, Hoppecke Industrial Batteries’ Key Account Director, wearing a kilt despite the cold, and his wife Liz, took to the hills of the Lake District on Friday November 8th as part of the Climb of Life group’s latest expedition to raise money for the Institute of Cancer Research.
The team split into groups and between them climbed Wansfell Round, Side Pike and Lingmoor, Place Fell, Bowfell, High Street, Helm Crag to High Raise, Langdale Pikes, Great Gable, Crinkle Crags and Blencathra with Sharp Edge.
Climb of Life has been actively raising money for the Institute of Cancer Research for the past 13 years, and for Children in Need for 19 years before that. It has raised a staggering £1.1 million for ICR and a total £1.7 million for all the charities it has supported since it started in 1988.
Climb of Life sets itself a different signature challenge each year and this year’s was to target 2 million steps. Each group took a pedometer to record the group’s steps, then added the steps together at the end and smashed the target between them to reach a total 2,760,008, the final eight steps reportedly from one individual who couldn’t get his pedometer to work properly!
Part of this team of adventurers was Gus Whyte, Key Account Director at Hoppecke Industrial Batteries, who with his wife Liz raised a handy sum of just over £2,200 towards the amazing total collected of £104,315. Gus told Warehouse & Logistics News that despite the seasonally low temperatures he chose to make the trek wearing a kilt as part of his angle to raise money. As it turned out, this year the weather was kind to us,” said Gus, “and although it was cold it was very bright, allowing us fantastic views from the hilltops.”
Following the climb, the team from ICR gave a talk on their achievements in 2019, which were greatly helped by the £103,000 donation from Climb of Life 2018.
Professor Paul Workman, the ICR CEO and President, and Chief Operating Officer Charmaine Griffiths were also trekking with the group. In addition to leading the ICR organisation, Paul still works as a hands-on scientist designing, synthesising and developing potential drug molecules to inhibit proteins or signalling pathways relevant in cancer and he updated the group on the ICR’s invaluable work.
Professor Paul Workman said: “It is fantastic to see the Climb of Life supporters’ hard work pay off, with the amazing achievement of reaching £1.1 million raised for the ICR and our pioneering cancer research. It was a pleasure to join the group for the fourth year running with my wife, Liz. The atmosphere is always amazing and hugely inspiring.”
The Climb of Life group and the ICR team then enjoyed dinner together at the Swan Hotel in Grasmere with all involved in the day. Next year’s event is now planned for Friday 6th November and is again based at the Swan Hotel, Grasmere. Anyone wishing to be involved or support the ICR Climb of Life can get in touch with Gus Whyte at guswhyte@hoppecke.co.uk
Gus Whyte would like to thank everyone from the materials handling industry who supported his personal appeal for support.
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