EDF Energy Networks colleagues get in practice for their charity walk accompanied by Pip the dog.
01 July 2010
EDF Energy Networks employees will be clocking up the miles for charity as part of a river walk this summer.
Ten colleagues from the customer services department and one of their dogs, will be walking from Ipswich to Needham Market along the banks of the River Gipping, for the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Treehouse Appeal.
Between them, the team which is based in Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, will walk around 170 miles during the event on July 25.
The walk from Ipswich to Needham Market and back is about 20 miles and while some members of the team are doing the full round trip, others have opted for a one-way journey of around 10 miles.
Customer services adviser Ian Sherman was the brains behind the plan. He said: “I came up with the idea when I was walking along the river from Yarmouth Road in Ipswich. I came across an information board and saw that the river goes all the way to Stowmarket. The next time I went all the way to Needham Market - as Stowmarket was a little far!”
The team decided to raise money for the Treehouse Appeal after Ian read about it on the BBC Suffolk website. Another team of 22 people from EDF Energy Networks in Fore Hamlet has also supported the same appeal, by taking part in the Orwell Walk on Sunday.
The appeal has been set up to raise £3million to build a bigger hospice in Ipswich to help improve the lives of children with life-threatening conditions and complex healthcare needs, as well as providing overnight accommodation for their families.
Ian, 25, said: “The appeal really interests me. I think it’s so important that the families of children in Ipswich who need to use the hospice are looked after in the best possible environment.
“As a company EDF Energy Networks is a big part of the community and it is great that our team can help raise this money for such a vital charity.
“The length of the walk is quite a challenge but there are lots of things to see along the way to keep us interested and to keep us going.”
Other team members taking part are Nikki Webb and Pip the dog, Clayton Fosker, Chris Adams, Miranda McLean, Rikita John, Sarah Gooding, Ebony Burnett and Helen Berry.
Mark Fox, community fundraiser for EACH said: “It’s amazing to see people thinking of new and different ways to raise money for the EACH Treehouse Appeal.
“This event is so simple but yet it provides a challenge for people who can all do it together, to raise money and awareness of children with life threatening conditions. Thank you so much for all your support, it truly is appreciated.”
ENDS
For further information, contact Jessica Gallagher in the EDF Energy press office on 01473 266484
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around a fifth of the nation’s electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK’s nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.