Land Rover, The British Red Cross and the 3 Peaks Challenge
In August of last year, six teams of adventurers from Land Rover took part in the gruelling 3 Peaks Challenge for their longstanding humanitarian charity partner, the British Red Cross. The teams were successful in raising a grand total of £17,500 for the British Red Cross’ humanitarian efforts across the world. This followed Land Rover’s 60th anniversary in 2008, part of which entailed the donation of 60 vehicles to the Red Cross, in celebration of their long history of co-operation.
Fifty-four Land Rover employees accepted the 3 Peaks Challenge, conquering the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales. The 24 hour challenge started on Saturday with the highest peak in the British Isles, Scotland’s Ben Nevis, at a mammoth 4406ft. The teams then took shifts to drive their Land Rovers to Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak, at 3206ft. Finally, the tired adventurers then travelled on to Wales to complete the 3 Peaks Challenge with the ascent and descent of Mt. Snowdon, 3560ft.
Sir Nicholas Young, the chief executive of the British Red Cross, said: “Land Rover’s employees have much to be proud of. I would like to thank them all for their wholehearted support and commitment to the 3 Peaks Challenge which has been a fantastic fundraising initiative raising over £17,000 for the British Red Cross.”
The six teams were comprised of a mixture of intrepid and, of course, physically fit participants from the Gaydon, Whitley, Solihull and Halewood sites. They were the Fantastic Five, Five Alive, Oblivion Runners, The Green Team, Walking Wounded and Team Ley. Each adventurer took an active role in the fundraising process too. They utilized a host of ingenious ideas to raise the £2,750 of sponsorship that each team was tasked with achieving. From a carwash day to carrying the departmental clock to the top of each peak; the team’s commitment to fundraising was admirable.
Out of the 18 teams that took part in the 3 Peaks Challenge, Land Rover teams took second and third place. The ‘Oblivion Runners’ came in second overall, with a total time of 21 hours and 31 minutes, followed by the ‘Fantastic Five’, who came in third with a total time of 22 hours. The ‘Oblivion Runners’ Simon Andrews said: “The opportunity to take on the 3 Peaks as well as raising over £2,000 for the British Red Cross was not one to pass up. We had a great time taking part and despite being narrowly beaten to first place, we’re proud of our efforts over this very gruelling challenge”.
The sense of accomplishment that the teams felt after having completed this gruelling challenge was only outdone by the knowledge that their efforts would help the British Red Cross to reach vulnerable people here in the UK, as well as those in need all over the world. Of course, Land Rover’s support for the Red Cross goes far beyond this kind of activity but it is no less important. Last year, Land Rover gave over £2.5 million to support International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) various high priority programmes around the world. This could be through fundraising, donating vehicles and a host of other charitable activities.
