11 women at local firm have walked a total of 4,844,227 steps during their lunch break and after work to raise money for Cancer Research.
Droitwich based Accounting firm, Ormerod Rutter have raised £2,212 for Cancer Research as staff took on the Walk all Over Cancer Challenge in March.
“So many people are affected by cancer, and we think it’s important to continue to raise awareness and support cancer research.” Begins Jo Purser, Tax Manager.
The reasons for each lady taking part in the challenge is personal to them, and they have each overcome their own hurdles along the way.
Paige Salisbury (semi- senior accountant) was inspired to take part in the challenge following her 28-year-old sister-in-law’s recent diagnosis of bowel cancer.
“I was hoping to raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people, help raise money and to really challenge myself. I have an Instagram page with 14,000 followers so it’s been great using that to spread awareness and encourage people to get checked if there is anything they are worried about.” Paige said.
Nicole Cook, (Tax Trainee) is taking part in the challenge in memory of her Grandad who sadly lost his cancer battle in May 2020 during the Covid pandemic.
“Unfortunately, 1 in 2 people will get cancer during their lifetime. I want to raise as much money as I can to support the charity.”
But is haven’t always been easy, the ladies each committed to walking 10,000 steps per day and at times have found it difficult to keep their motivation up;
“It has been difficult at times as I have had revision to do and an exam to sit in the 3rd week of March. Walking most lunch times really helped to free up some time in the evening for revision.” Nicole said.
Over in the Bromsgrove office, Dina O’Brien (Accounts Manager) and Jessica Jenkins (Accounts Apprentice) from the Accounts department have been walking together during their lunchbreak to achieve their target of 10,000 steps a day. Jessica’s Nan sadly passed away from the disease a day after her diagnosis, so she is walking in her memory and hopes that the combined walking effort of the ladies at Ormerod Rutter will help to raise awareness.
Eliza Bradley (Digital Marketing Executive) who is also taking part in the challenge has been keeping the ladies motivated by sending out a running tally and leader board every week so that they can all keep track of how far they have walked and how much money they have raised for the charity.
“The weekly updates have really helped to keep our motivation up and dare I say, helped to create some healthy competition” Says Tamsin Harvey (Tax Senior).
“I used to walk a lot when I was younger – we had walking holidays and would go up Snowdon or walk around the Lake District, but things change overtime and working behind a desk can have an impact on fitness. This challenge has inspired me to push myself to keep going further.” Continues Tamsin, who walked from Bromsgrove to Worcester one day, covering 15 miles to get her steps in.
She has since set her sites on taking part in the 97 mile walk across the “West Highland Way” in Scotland as her next challenge.
When asked if they will continue to walk to the same extent at the end of March, all ladies have said that they will keep it up, with each of them saying how much it has benefited their fitness and mental health.
The ladies who took part in the Walk all Over Cancer 10K Challenge at Ormerod Rutter were: Chloe Cull, Dina O’Brien, Eliza Bradley, Hannah Mortimer, Jessica Jenkins, Jo Purser, Kath Hoult, Laura Hardiman, Nicole Cook, Paige Salisbury and Tamsin Harvey.
“On behalf of the partners at Ormerod Rutter, we would like to express our pride at the effort that our colleagues have gone to in completing this challenge. We pride ourselves on enforcing that all staff take regular breaks and extended time away from their desk at lunch and this is a prime example of why every business should support this. They are a credit to the firm and the people that they’re walking in memory of.” Commented Julian Dyer, Partner.
If you would like to donate to the Ormerod Rutter Just Giving Page, go to: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/ormerod-rutter