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Hadrian's Wall 84:48 Challenge

On one of the hottest weekends of the summer, five teams of intrepid walkers - including four corporate groups from Salisbury - walked 84 miles in under 48 hours along one of the UK’s most famous landmarks, and in so doing raised more than £12,000 for SSIT.

The Hadrian’s Wall 84:48 Challenge, which was led by accountancy firm Smith & Williamson, involved 21 people walking a combined distance of over 1700 miles in less than two days. Two teams were made up of Smith & Williamson staff, and one each came from Morgan Roberts and Savills. A further team was made up of SSIT supporters from the region.

Starting at Wallsend in Newcastle upon Tyne, it was a good four hours hard walking on tarmac before the teams had reached the open countryside and the ruins of the wall at Heddon-on-the-Wall. With two long days of walking ahead of them, there was little time to stop and appreciate the ruins and the beautiful rugged landscape of Northern England – the teams marched on, enduring scorching sunshine and blistered feet. Their support vehicles kept them well-fed and watered and even supplied ice foot baths to one lucky team.

Event organiser Rebecca Combes of Smith & Williamson said: “I’m so proud of all the teams that took part. It was a huge effort and we are very grateful for people giving so much time and energy to complete the challenge. Our thanks also go to everyone who sponsored and supported the teams.”

Click here for more photographs of the teams in action.

SAINSBURY’S SALISBURY MEETS FUNDRAISING TARGET - July 2010

Sainsbury’s Store Manager Paul Jones presents a cheque to Trustees Victoria Holton and Jeremy Major

SSIT Trustees Victoria Holton and Jeremy Major today received a cheque for £6,600 from Sainsbury’s in Salisbury. In the last 12 months, the store has fundraised for SSIT through a variety of initiatives ranging from a quiz night and craft stalls to a staff bath of custard and a sky dive. This last event, which took place at the end of May, raised £1100.

Jeremy Major, SSIT Trustee said: “We are enormously grateful to Sainsbury’s for their support this past year. Their enthusiasm and energy to fundraise for SSIT has been really impressive. The money raised will go towards our Jubilee Garden appeal, which aims to provide a specially designed rehabilitation garden at the Spinal Unit.”

Paul Jones, Sainsbury’s store manager, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the way everyone’s pulled together since we started raising money for The Southern Spinal Injuries Trust We’ve all really enjoyed coming up with new and unusual ways to raise funds for this very worthy cause and it’s great to think that we’re making a positive difference to so many people.”

Paralysed sailor Geoff Holt MBE announced as new patron of SSIT

The Southern Spinal Injuries Trust is pleased to announce that Geoff Holt MBE has become a Patron of the Charity.

A record-breaking sailor and ambassador for disability, Geoff Holt became the first quadriplegic to sail across the Atlantic in January 2010. 25 years ago and aged just 18, Geoff was one of the first patients to be cared for at the Spinal Centre in Salisbury.

Geoff Holt commented: “I’m delighted to offer my support to the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust. The charity was not around when I was injured but on my regular visits to the spinal unit I can see the difference that it has made. The equipment that SSIT has provided helps enormously with the rehabilitation of patients.”

Jeremy Major, Trustee of SSIT said: “It’s wonderful news that Geoff has agreed to become a Patron of SSIT. He is the most inspirational man and having been a patient at the spinal centre himself he has a very real connection with the charity. We are honoured that we have his commitment and support.”

Sainsburys Quiz Night

A big thank you to our friends at Sainsbury’s in Salisbury for raising over £600 at their recent Quiz Night.

Over 120 people from all over the county took part in this fun evening which was hosted by Graham Seaman, presenter from BBC Radio Wiltshire. The winning team was the ‘BBC Boffins’ from BBC Wiltshire’s Swindon Studio, and hot on their heels in second place was ‘Team Robin’ from the Salisbury Office of Smith & Williamson.

Our thanks go to all those who took part in this event, to those who donated prizes for the raffle, to Graham for hosting the event and to Muriel Prince at Sainsbury’s for organising it. We are enormously grateful for the continued support of Sainsbury’s Salisbury.

The winning team – BBC Boffins – with (third from right) event organiser Muriel Prince, Quiz Master Graham Seaman, and Sainsbury’s store manager Paul Jones

Santa Fun Run at Longleat

Photo:
Somerset Standard

Over 300 Santas of all ages and abilities joined top heptathlete and Gladiator Lucy Boggis at Longleat for our first Santa Fun Run. The event has already raised over £4,000 - thank you to everyone who took part and to all those who sponsored a Santa.

SSIT Trustee Jeremy Major commented: “We are thrilled that so many people turned out to support us on this first Santa Fun Run at Longleat, a number of them coming from Cornwall and Hertfordshire. We are hugely grateful to all those who helped make this event such a success and in particular to Lord Bath for choosing SSIT as Charity of the Year 2010 thus enabling us to do the event, and to Lucy for her support. Our thanks go to The Bath Arms and Gerald Simonds for helping sponsor this event, to Orangements for providing the PA and music, and to 3tr fm for helping promote it. Special thanks must also go to 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment who gave up their free time to help with the manning of this event.”

Take a look at the event on You Tube (thanks to Warminster Web) and there are hundreds of photos to buy with a donation to SSIT via www.seemeinaction.co.uk.