Blazing a muddy trail for Heel & Toe Children’s Charity

The North East’s largest independent electrical wholesaler, Park Electrical Distributors, boasts a number of warriors at its Gateshead branch, as they raised over £2,000 for Heel & Toe Children’s Charity.

An eight-strong team joined over 1,500 people from across the UK and overcame 26 extreme obstacles to raise money for the charity as they took part in ‘Total Warrior’ at Bramham Park, Leeds.

The team comprised PR and communications manager, Rachel Wilkinson, digital marketing assistant, Kristofer Payne, business development and marketing executive at My KNX Store, Kit Holmes, lighting design – key accounts manager, Karl Snowdon, lighting design engineer, Craig Leighton, building technologies technical sales, Ross Christian, building technologies manager, Paul Kinghorn and director at Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations, Sarah O’Mahoney.

The Park Charity Fund was launched this year, with the company pledging to match all funds raised by staff to a maximum of £25,000 during the year.

Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, which is based in Chester-le-Street and supports children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities, is one of three regional charities the fund has committed to support. It also assists Cleveland Alzheimers Residential Centre Limited and Darcy’s Dream, a Blyth-based charity which assists newly bereaved families.

Rachel Wilkinson, PR and communications manager at Park Electrical Distributors, said: “The Park Fund was launched earlier this year to support three very deserving charities. Throughout the year we will also be involved in social gatherings and events and an employee volunteer scheme is in place whereby members of the team have the opportunity to help out on day release at their chosen community initiative or charity.

“When we found out that Heel & Toe Children’s Charity was looking for teams to take part in Total Warrior, the thrill seekers amongst us jumped at the chance to take part and what an experience!

“We participated in the 12k events course which consisted of running in between 26 obstacles which were not for the faint hearted – The ‘Human BBQ, ‘The Plunge’ and ‘The Shocker’ saw us knee deep in mud, plunged into ice cold water and attempting to avoid electrical shocks, all of which we successfully overcame.

“We have raised over £2,000 so far and it was a real team effort, we have a great comradery within the office and we all supported each other during the day. Some of the obstacles were truly intimidating and we needed to dig deep to get through it all in one piece.”

Natalie Harker, fundraising officer at Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Park Electrical Distributors and were thrilled when it chose to make us part of the Park Charity Fund. A huge congratulations to the team that represented Heel & Toe Children’s Charity and for all of the money raised following the event.”