Member Article

Staff at NE accountancy firm take their marks for gruelling charity run

Thirty six staff from Rowlands Accountants will be covering the length and breadth of the region as they undertake a gruelling relay challenge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 29th, 30th and 31st August 2014 to raise money for three local charities.

The “Round Rowlands Run” will see a relay team lead by John Grimshaw who lives in Benton, Newcastle tackle over 220 kilometres (or 6 marathons) in the course of the three days during which they will run to the firm’s six North East offices.

Starting from the firm’s Birtley office, the team’s first day will see them visit offices in Sunderland and Yarm, overnighting at Middleton St George.

Their journey will start again on Saturday and take in Crook office, stopping at Riding Mill, with Hexham and Ponteland forming the final leg taking them via Newcastle to finish up back at the Birtley office.

Partner David Nairn is an old hand at charity fundraising, having undertaken three charity bicycle rides in the last three years; but a relay run over such a distance is new to him; “It’s a huge challenge both physically and logistically. We really do have a large footprint in the North East. It goes from the Tees to the Tweed. To cover the area, largely off-road, in just three days will take some doing. We have involved almost a third of all our staff in actually running individual stages and in total over half the firm will be involved in some way.”

All Rowlands staff were involved in the selection of charities to support, and the final vote identified:

1. North Tees Hospital Haematology Unit – due to the number nominations in its own right, and those who expressed a vote for other National Cancer Charities, it was thought appropriate as the Unit is involved in treating one of the Rowlands Partners who is recovering from leukaemia.

2. Dementia Care – one of the Alzheimer’s related charities also topped the list, and as such it was thought supporting a North East based charity was best. This allows Rowlands to keep the funds raised within their local area, and perhaps even touch the lives of those around them.

3. Finally, the Percy Hedley Foundation. Again a local charity, who this year have launched a specific “Splash Fund” to raise money for a hydrotherapy pool for disabled children.

Chris Morley, partner at Rowlands added; “We are very proud to be associated with these charities and support the important role they play in helping children and their families in the local community.”

He also thanked the support given by the firm and the families of those taking part: “If you would like to support the charities then please contact us for details of how to donate.”

A reception to mark the end of the challenge is being held at the Moulders Arms, Birtley from 3pm on Sunday 31 August.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Astute.Work .