Partner Article

Shared Interest blog: How to lose weight and influence people

AS PART of the Shared Interest team here at our Newcastle HQ, fair trade is more than just a mark. Daily contact with our customers means we regularly see the direct impact fair trade has on farmers and handicraft producers in the developing world.

In a bid to lose a bit of weight before my upcoming summer holidays – who isn’t?! – I signed up to the Northern Rock ‘Cyclone’ challenge; one of the UK’s largest cycling festivals. As I started my training and began to realise exactly what I had let myself in for, I decided to try and get a bit more out of the challenge than summer weight loss by raising sponsorship on behalf of Shared Interest Foundation.

The Foundation works with entrepreneurs in the developing world, equipping them with the skills training they need to make their businesses a success.

I managed to complete the cyclone challenge in 2 hours 57 minutes 30 seconds, not bad for a 33 mile slog around the Northumberland countryside, even if I do say so myself! Luckily that weekend the great British weather held firm and I could enjoy the ride and the scenery. It was a beautiful route, but I’m not sure that I’ll be repeating the experience anytime soon!

Despite my best efforts, the cyclone challenge only managed to raise half of my sponsorship target. Onwards and upwards though! I think I must be a glutton for punishment as somehow I have ended Great North 10k team. Luckily though I managed to escape the infamous banana costume, Sally I’ll leave that one in your capable hands!

The run, 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) starts on the Wearmouth bridge in Sunderland and then see’s us heading along the coastline finishing up at Sunderland’s ‘Stadium of Light’. Interested in joining in and raising some money for Shared Interest Foundation? To sign up click here

As an extra incentive the Foundation are offering anyone who raises £1000 or more on behalf of the charity by the end of the year the opportunity to win the holiday of a lifetime, visiting some of the producer groups that we work with in either Costa Rica, Kenya or Peru.

The 10k could be a great sponsorship starting point. Alternatively if running isn’t for you the Foundation are embarking on a 7.5 mile sponsored walk of Hadrian’s Wall on Saturday 31 July. Again this could be a great opportunity to kick start your fundraising and get that step closer to that amazing holiday.

If taking part doesn’t appeal but you’d like to support us via sponsorship you can do online just click here

To find out more about Shared Interest Foundation click here

To find out more about the Great North 10k click here

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .