#Km4Cancer – Shropshire Council’s IT team go around the world for Cancer Research
The ICT team at Shropshire Council completed their ‘around the world’ challenge with five days to spare. The team collectively travelled 33,000km in memory of their colleague Andrew Bennett, who passed away from cancer in May.
The challenge was to replicate the distance travelled on an around the world train journey, with team members logging distance travelled on foot, bike, rowing boat or anything that requires physical effort to move.
The team’s challenge has now moved to the next phase where they need to travel additional distances to receive further donations, most notably £1,000 from Hitachi Solutions Europe if the team can reach 50,000km.
To help the team meet their new total, the 53 days has been extended to 60 – with those taking part having to now up their daily objectives and travel approximately 16km each, per person, each day for the next 12 days.
The donations currently stand at £3,000 (over £3,600 with gift aid) but this would exceed the team’s target of £5,000 if the team reach their goal of 50,000km.
You can keep track of their progress here – http://shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-council/km4cancer/ and on social media.
Andrew Boxall, head of technology, said:
“We’re all tired, people’s legs hurt, my back is not in a good place, but we keep plodding on! Andrew was a great colleague, and cancer has hit us hard as a team: our focus is on hitting the 50,000km in the next 12 days, which is the best part of 200km each.
“Please, if you can, donate to this amazing cause. Cancer hits so many people, and the knowledge that our efforts are raising money for Cancer Research UK gives us a real boost – particularly when running in the rain!”
The team track the distance travelled on their smartphones or built-in measuring devices and submit totals regularly to a central tracking system. A dashboard showing their location around the globe has been created to show where they would have been if this were an actual around the world trip, which you can find on the dedicated webpage – http://shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-council/km4cancer/
The team approached partner technology companies, with a handful donating already, such as Nutanix, Sophos and Phishing Tackle. As a motivation to go further, some companies agreed to make further donations when the team reach additional milestones. Hitachi Solutions Europe and Liquid Logic have collectively agreed to donate over £2,500 if the team hit the 50,000km target:
- 33,000km – £450 (achieved)
- 40,000km – £850
- 50,000km – £1,300
Andrew Bennett, who sadly died in May 2020
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for organisational transformation and digital infrastructure, said:
“We’ve now done it, we hit the target and really well done to the whole team! Now, we want the extra £2,150 for Cancer Research. Our new target of 16km a day each is understandably a stretch for some, particularly those who had not walked or run regularly. The ICT team are a close bunch, and this has helped them pull together around the loss of their colleague, so it’s been fantastic to be part of this – please donate if you can to this brilliant charity effort, it all goes to Cancer Research. Thank you in advance!”
You can make a donation here https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/km4cancer.
KM4Cancer
Photos from the efforts:-
Camel Trail in Cornwall – Clair MJ and Monty the cavapoo
Abbie Sylvester getting her steps in at Kynance Kove
Julie Edwards is one of the council’s software specialists and has travelled the furthest for the challenge, completing over 1,100km so far
Julie Edwards
Chris Warrender
Chris Warrender is the council’s lead security specialist and has been visiting some of Shropshire’s stately homes and walks to get his kilometres in
Katie Dawson’s son Evan and dog Sabine have accompanied mum on their walks for KM4Cancer. Katie is one of the team’s specialist IT trainers.
Lynda Smith is an integration and database specialist, amongst many areas of expertise. Lynda worked with Andrew for 20 years and has been one of many staff who were keen to show their support for KM4Cancer in his memory.
Chris Warrender, Julie Edwards, Lynda Smith and Rob Gallagher went up the Long Mynd to get some kilometres (socially distancing of course)
Jonathan Fraser is an IT infrastructure engineer who has consistently cycled over 20km each day for KM4Cancer, whilst enjoying the beautiful Shropshire countryside
Shropshire countryside
Nathan Hoare is a software specialist focussing on technologies used by residents to access services. Nathan got his bike out for KM4Cancer to get the kilometres up, and has been doing above and beyond his bit for the challenge ever since.
