Birmingham's business community pledges support for Gateley fundraising drive
9th August 2011
The Birmingham office of national law firm Gateley aims to raise over £50,000 for The Foundation for Conductive Education this Summer. To support the cause a number of key names within the Midlands business community have agreed to dust off their running shoes to help the firm meet its ambitious target of attracting up to 1,000 runners to take part in their event.
On Sunday 18 September, Gateley will host a family fun day and 5k run or walk 'The Five for Fifty Run'. The firm is looking to raise the funds needed by the charity to secure its Parent and Child Service for a year. The service helps children under three years old with neurological motor disorders to develop motor, social and cognitive skills.
Gateley is appealing for 200 teams of up to five people to pound the course in Cannon Hill Park. Each team member pays £50 to enter and the money goes directly to the charity. Children will also get the chance to take part in a lap of the park and then enjoy the family entertainment that the firm will be putting on which includes face painting, bouncy castles and a live band.
Gateley has adopted the Foundation for Conductive Education as its local charity for the coming year and employees are involved in a variety of fundraising initiatives to raise as much cash as possible.
Some of the headline names already signed up for 'The Five for Fifty' run include AIB, Deloitte, Busy Bees Group, Calthorpe Estates, Capita, Clay Rogers, Grant Thornton, KPMG, No.5 Chambers, RBS, RMS Tenon, Savills, Future Garments, JLT Benefit Solutions, NP Aerospace, Surgi-C, Titan Europe and Taylor Wimpey West Midlands.
Victoria Garrad is an employment partner in Gateley's Birmingham office and is spearheading the firm's efforts to hit the target, she said: "The Foundation for Conductive Education is a local charity that is close to our hearts and we are carrying out a number of events throughout the year, with this being our main fundraiser. We've set ourselves an ambitious target but we'd love to be able hand over the full amount at the end of it all.
"We've been in touch with as many local businesses as possible and had an overwhelming response. We're really grateful to everyone signed up so far but we still need more teams. We've also had vouchers from West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park and the National Sealife Centre Birmingham and Angel Springs are donating the bottled water for participants. To get people motivated and prepared, Fitness 4 Less will be warming the runners up before the start of the race.
"Our aim is to make it a fun family day out, which everyone can enjoy at the same time as taking part in something really special to help raise money for a very worthy cause."
If you are interested in signing up a team or simply making a donation then please contact Victoria Garrad at FiveforFiftyRun@gateleyuk.com. In addition follow the Gateley event on Twitter at @Gateley5for50 for more information or to pledge your interest in joining in the fun.
