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Fundraising Reports

There are individuals and Institutes across the British Islands and ROI who are raising money for The Insurance Charities. If you would like to promote and celebrate your fundraising efforts in this section or within the quarterly newsletter please contact Rachel Mason by email or by telephone on +44 (0) 207 606 3763 to discuss.

 

Charity bike ride

John EvansNot content with cycling around Scotland fairly recently, to benefit The Insurance Charities and MacMillan Cancer Support, John Evans, the charity’s visitor in Perth and Dundee, set out in June to cycle around Britain; calling in on as many local insurance institutes as possible en route.

A number of local institutes kindly helped with John’s expenses so that all monies raised could be split between the two charities. Many thanks, John, from all those who will benefit from your fundraising efforts.

 

Everest Basecamp Challenge - November 2010

Report from John Evans:

"Having completed three other challenges with Global Adventure Challenges, for different charities, I turned to them again for this challenge and designated the Insurance Charities as my charity. To ensure that the Insurance Charities would have the benefit of all sponsorship raised I funded all costs personally.

Signing up for the challenge is the easy part. Doing the training and fundraising is more arduous. My training consisted of my usual gym routine, hill walking, doing a few munros (hills over 3,000ft) and cycling from Lands End to John O’ Groats. In total the Insurance Charities received £1657.50 in donations.

We flew to Lukla in Nepal via Delhi and Kathmandu (stayed there two nights and managed some sightseeing). Lukla airport, at 8,126 feet, is considered one of the most dangerous in the world due to its surrounding terrain, thin air, highly changeable weather and its 1,500 feet sloping runway.

Everest Basecamp ChallengeThe trek itself, over a period of twelve days, was absolutely brilliant. We climbed gradually each day, with two acclimatisation days included, until we reached base camp, at 17,590 feet, on day nine. Early next morning we climbed Kala Patar, at 18.192 feet, to watch the sunrise on Everest before we descended to Lukla over three days. We were lucky to have bright sunny weather except for the final two days when it deteriorated to low cloud/mist. I wore shorts and tee-shirts for most of the trekking but from late afternoon until morning the temperature plunged into minus figures. Our accommodation was in lodges and the diet mainly vegetarian with plenty of second helpings and lemon tea. Highlights include: the scenery itself with glaciers and several of the highest mountains in the world towering above us snow topped against a blue sky; the flora and the fauna including yaks, danphe pheasants and Himalayan thars (similar to a goat); Hindu and Buddhist temples, monasteries, prayer wheels and flags; memorial cairns; too many high, long and shaky suspension bridges; and the many tea-houses we frequented on the way.

Everest Basecamp ChallengeIt was humbling to witness the very basic lifestyle and culture of the Nepalese and also of the Sherpa community. The porters carry huge weights up the mountain tracks - rucksacks for trekkers, food supplies and commercial goods. We also visited the hospital at Munde set up by the Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust and the school at Lukla (one of the schools built by the charity Classrooms in the Clouds).

Due to the bad weather on our return to Lukla we were delayed for an extra two days and in the end chartered a helicopter then a six hour mini-coach journey, over unmade roads, to get back to Kathmandu. I wouldn’t recommend the coach journey but it prevented us form being among the two thousand who were eventually stuck at Lukla (population 1,500) before the weather cleared.

All in all a worthwhile and interesting challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed, with the added bonus of bringing funds to the Insurance Charities."

 

David Gowers of Amlin crowned The Insurance Charities’ Big Balloon Day race winner

David Gowers of Amlin crowned The Insurance Charities’ Big Balloon Day race winnerMr Gowers has won a champagne hot air balloon trip for four, after Amlin's balloon travelled the furthest, all the way from London to Somerset!

The Ageas-sponsored race took place on 18 June 2010. Other activities included balloon-themed events, which were organised by local CII institutes, insurance companies and brokers around the UK.

Barry Smith, chief executive of Ageas, commented: “Ageas is delighted to support such a worthwhile cause. We want to help raise awareness in the insurance industry that The Insurance Charities exists to help any insurance person who is in need. I’d also like to congratulate Amlin whose balloon travelled all the way to Somerset.”

Rachel Mason, marketing manager at The Insurance Charities, commented: “We are grateful to Ageas for sponsoring our Big Balloon Charities Day 2010 and we are looking forward to this years fundraising events.”

The Insurance Charities held the presentation on 26 January, in the Great Hall at the CII Building in London. Read more

 

Insurance Institute of Coventry Annual Dinner

Insurance Charities Birmingham Post article

This article appeared in the Birmingham Post newspaper on 24th February 2009. Many thanks to them for allowing us to reproduce it for you here.