Two charities are set for a welcome windfall thanks to the mammoth fundraising efforts of UK veterinary group VetPartners.
Colleagues from VetPartners, which has 140 UK practices, joined forces to clock up 3,139 miles – the distance from Portsmouth, USA to the company’s headquarters in York.
Throughout November, they ran, walked, cycled or rode on horseback the distance, recording individual mileage on the Strava mobile phone app until they had raised £5,020.
Those taking part included vets, nurses, receptionists and practice administrators, as well as members of VetPartners’ central support team at the company’s headquarters in York.
Judy Scrine, clinical director at Mayes & Scrine Equine Vets in Horsham, Sussex, completed six marathons and ran 311 miles during November. Andy MacGregor, clinical director at Ashlands Vets in West Yorkshire, and his wife Anne, practice manager, cycled and walked 1175.16 miles, climbing 60,000ft.
CHALLENGED
Another fantastic feat was achieved by Helen Mason, a receptionist at Prince Bishop Vets in County Durham, who walked 173 miles in the Yorkshire Dales.
Donations made through a JustGiving page and a £2,000 donation from pharmaceutical company MSD will be divided between Pets As Therapy (PAT) and veterinary charity Vetlife.
VetPartners, which has 5,514 employees working in more than 400 sites, challenged its teams to complete as many miles as possible and the overall winner was the equine team.
Organiser Kayley Metcalfe, operations coordinator at VetPartners, said: “We have practices all over the UK but we are a close-knit company with a family atmosphere, and it has been fantastic to see everyone pulling together for two great causes during what has been a challenging year for everyone due to covid-19.
“We have had a lot of fun raising money for two fantastic charities, which are close to our hearts, and it has helped to bring us all closer together as colleagues. It was a great way to boost fitness and wellbeing, as well as focus on our charitable efforts for 2020.”
