A GROUP of employees from Elanco Animal Health will stride out along the Thames to raise money for a charity that has been supporting one of their group members.
Event organiser Carrie Naish says that she has managed to gather 50 of her colleagues to walk with her along the river path from its source to the sea, and hopes to raise £10k for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
“Each year Elanco offers a Global Day Of Purpose, where everyone in the company takes part in some charitable activity,” she said.
“It’s an international organisation, so our members will be doing something around the world, but here in Thames Valley, we’ll be walking the river’s length.
“One of our team Sally’s husband was diagnosed with motor neurone disease 18 months ago.
“She’s been an absolute superhero, looking after her two young boys, supporting her husband and continuing at work.”
Carrie says that Motor Neurone Disease Association has been very supportive of the family, providing fun days out for them, medical equipment, carers, and counselling.
“MNDA has been brilliant, and we’d like to support them so that more families like Sarah’s can benefit from their work,” she added.
Starting near Lechlade in the Cotswolds the first week of October, the relay will end at the Thames Barrier on Thursday, October 5.
The walkers are divided into seven relay groups, each party covering between 25 and 28 miles over a period of around nine hours.
“We’re not all seasoned strollers so it may be a struggle for some,”continued Ms Naish.
“I’ve done ultramarathons in the past, but not for a few years, and I’m feeling it a bit after yesterday’s training, but I’m really looking forward to the event.
“It’s going to be a great team building exercise, and we hope it will raise lots of money for this really worthwhile charity.”
Motor neurone disease affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
It can lead to a wide range of difficulties, including muscle weakness, cramps, stiffness, and pain.
It can also affect speech, breathing, emotional response and behaviour.
For information visit: www.mndassociation.org
For more about Elanco, log onto: www.elanco.com
And to support the Thames walkers’ fund raising efforts, find their justgiving page at: www.justgiving.com and search for team ElancoRelay
