The agents putting the fun into fundraising

The calendar girls aren’t alone in their charity-focused exploits. There are a whole host of agents ready to take on a challenge for worthy causes and with inspiring stories to tell.

In August last year, Linda Palmer, travel clerk at Althams Travel in Todmorden, defied her vertigo to abseil more than 100 metres down Liverpool Cathedral in aid of Ronald McDonald House, a charity that’s dear to her.

“My grandson was born with a narrow heart valve and underwent a lifesaving operation at Alder Hey Children’s hospital. The Ronald McDonald House next door looks after parents and gave my daughter a room to sleep in for free, so she could see her baby every day.”

Palmer’s colleagues and clients sponsored her, and local paper the Halifax Courier covered the story, helping to raise more than £1,000.

She tells me the experience was “scary and exciting” in equal measure: “I was amazed at myself for doing it, especially as somebody in front of me decided to go back. I would highly recommend it, as it was one of the most daring things I’ve ever done – a real case of conquering your fears.”

Amanda Fodden, branch manager at Hays Travel Consett also took charity fundraising to new heights when she and two colleagues completed the Ultimate Skywalk on a wire bridge suspended more than 600 metres above a valley floor in the Lake District at Honister Pass, in aid of Willow Burn Hospice.

“Every year, Hays Travel allocates £500 to each of its branches to use towards making a difference in their local community,” explains Fodden.

The branch has supported local charity Willow Burn Hospice on several occasions via events including biannual coach trips, with ticket sales and onboard raffles raising funds.

“I returned from our annual managers’ conference in November 2017 inspired by the stories I’d heard about the funds raised for worthy cause,” says Fodden.

“We decided that this year we wanted to do something as a branch that would really challenge us – something totally out of character that would shock our friends and family.” She and two of the branch’s apprentices, Charlie Spencer and Adam Duncan, completed the walk in April this year.

“We raised £700 in branch through advertising and promoting posts on Facebook, which [Hays managing director] John Hays matched, so we raised £1,400 in total. People really couldn’t believe what we had signed up for,” she laughs.

Fodden describes the walk as “terrifying”, but for a great cause. “We were all exhausted but exhilarated at the end,” she says. “Adam and Charlie are now adrenaline junkies and are even looking at doing a sky-dive next.”