Member Article

Pattonair employees to trek 20 miles to help Holiday Hunger scheme

Employees from Derby-based Pattonair will be taking part in a major charity walk to help make sure disadvantaged youngsters don’t go hungry during their school holidays.

Twenty staff from the business will take on the T20 Walkathon, organised by Cricket Derbyshire Foundation, and trek from Trent Bridge, in Nottingham, to the Pattonair County Ground, in Derby.

Proceeds from the event, on July 26, go to the Derwent Ward Holiday Hunger scheme and after-school programme, which aims to provide healthy meals, coaching and sporting activities for children in Derby’s Derwent ward.

Many of the children living in the area, which is judged by the Government to be one of the most deprived areas in the UK, rely on free school meals during term time. This means holidays can be a particular strain on parents who struggle to afford meals with children often having little to eat as well as limited access to sport.

The employees from Pattonair, the leading global aerospace and defence industry supply chain service provider, have already contributed £500 to the cause from their entry fees for the walk and hope to raise a further £1,000 via their Just Giving page.

Wayne Hollinshead, chief executive of Pattonair, said: “Charity work sits at the heart of our business and we are always looking to support initiatives that directly benefit the local Derbyshire community.

“Since we took over the naming rights for Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s ground, which is situated within the Derwent ward, earlier this year, we have been placing particular emphasis on sporting initiatives - which is why the T20 Walkathon was a perfect fit.

“The event encourages people of all ages to get active and, through the after-school club it is raising money for, also engages the younger generation to experience a range of sporting activities.”

Participants can still register to take part in the T20 Walkathon and, as part of their £25 registration fee, will receive bus travel to the start point at Trent Bridge, courtesy of Trent Barton, an official Walkathon t-shirt and an event pack.

The price also includes food and drink on arrival at the Pattonair County Ground, as well as admission to the Vitality Blast T20 cricket game between Derbyshire Falcons and Notts Outlaws, which will be held the same evening.

Cricket Derbyshire Foundation hopes the Walkathon will raise more than £6,000 in total.

Charlotte Flindall, Cricket Derbyshire Foundation Development Officer, said: “Last year the Walkathon raised almost £10,000 for charity and saw over 80 people turn out to walk the 20 miles.

“It’s always an enjoyable day which sees members of the community integrate with one another, share personal stories and even presents an opportunity for a few pub stops along the way.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned or more of an every now and then walker, we want everyone of all ages to get involved.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Ford .