Stepping into spring fundraising
With a definite feeling of spring in the air, some dedicated individuals are also out in force - running and pedalling their way to raise funds for LionHeart and the people we support.
First up later this month will be two people who are running the London Marathon on April 27th.
Despite being “not a runner”, chartered surveyor and registered valuer Jessica Barrett has been so dedicated to her training that she even squeezed in some training sessions while on her honeymoon - admittedly with a pretty great view!
Jess is raising funds for us and Dementia UK in honour of her late grandparents. She says: “In 2020 I stepped on a rollercoaster, like many of us, with no idea what’s to come. I had to step up, with no business knowledge, to take more control of the company, Blanking Associates, through the strange new times. Then on the 25th December we heartbreakingly lost my beautiful Nan and co-founder of the company.
“Things have been a whirlwind of ups and downs ever since then, leading to the pit of 2023 when due to the slow market we eventually had to make some hard decisions at the company, including redundancies. I took up parkrun to try and help my mental health, and for some reason that led me to getting a space on the London Marathon... despite not running further than 5km before. It is certainly going to be a challenge, but I hope to make it across that famous line!”
Also running, in his second London Marathon, is Richard Holmes. He has chosen to support LionHeart in honour of his late grandfather, an RICS Fellow, and to thank some surveyors who helped him with a family history research trip to Hong Kong last year. He said: “I wanted to thank some immensely kind people who assisted me on a trip to visit where my grandparents lived and worked in the 1950s and 60s, as well as where my father and aunties were born and grew up.”
Singapore-based former RICS Governing Council member, and long-term LionHeart supporter, Bill Jones helped Richard find out more about his grandfather, who had spent time in Singapore before being sent to set up the Hong Kong office of Davis Langdon & Seah in 1949. Richard still has his grandfather’s Fellow and Professional Associate certificates from 1939 and 1962 framed and hung in his office and was delighted to get in touch with former partners of DLS who shared their memories of him.
He added: “It was a great honour for me to hear their kind words and they all made the trip an experience I will never forget. More importantly all have or have had a part with RICS in one shape or form so I am raising money for LionHeart as a thank you to Bill, and to honour my grandfather as well.”
Our long-term supporter James Cram, a regional manager at Legal & General, is no stranger to marathons - or raising money for LionHeart. But this June he’s stepping up his efforts by taking on his first ultra marathon, which is 50km (or 31 miles) along the South Downs Way.
He said: “I’m running (and probably walking) to raise money for LionHeart, a charity that is very dear to my heart. LionHeart have actually helped me twice in my life. Firstly, during the financial crash in 2007 when they provided me with food parcels and money in order to keep my head above water and secondly, with bereavement counselling when my wonderful sister Charlotte died.
“Charlotte was a chartered surveyor, involved with the RICS and was studying for her fellowship when she died - so the charity has a close connection with my family!”
James already has £900 on his Just Giving page and hopes to break the £1,000 barrier.
Meanwhile, fellow L & G colleague Iain Moore will mark the end of a 40-year surveying career with an epic bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats at the end of June. The trip will take him from the bottom of mainland UK in Cornwall to the tip of northern Scotland, covering some 900 miles over 10 to 14 days. He chose to support LionHeart after hearing a presentation by CEO Phil Sparke and ambassador Steve Lees at the recent L&G Surveyors annual conference, and has already had donations of £600 pledged through his Just Giving page.
He said: “To celebrate my retirement after over 40 years of being a surveyor, I decided to cycle from one end of the country to another with a few of my friends. Having seen the presentation by LionHeart at the L& G Surveyors’ annual conference, I thought it would be appropriate to try and raise some money for their cause.”
LionHeart’s supporter engagement and fundraising manager Faye Smith said: “We’re so grateful to our wonderful fundraisers like Iain, Jess, Rich and James and wish them all well for their various events. The money raised through challenges like this really does make a massive difference to LionHeart as an independent charity, and the support we are able to offer the surveying community.
"We hope to see even more people playing their part and fundraising for LionHeart over the next few months, whether that's by taking part in the upcoming Headquarters Hop or by organising their own event or activity!"
If you’d like to support our spring fundraisers, you can find their Just Giving pages through the links below:
- Inspired to do your own fundraising? [spoiler: we promise it doesn’t have to involve running or cycling!] Take a look at our fundraising guide here
- Also watch our socials in the next few weeks for your chance to sign up to the HQ Hop in June, organised by our friends at SDL Surveying!
