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SPOCE and our partners are delighted to share more news on our ongoing donations to various charities.In April, £300 was donated to Independent Age. A charity who provide free information and advice for older people and their families on care and support, money and benefits and health and mobility, along with friendship services to relieve loneliness. With the United Kingdom facing funding and care strain for our aging population, something has to be done to help. Member of the SPOCE family, Oakley Richards, ran the 2023 London Marathon to raise funds for Independent Age. He successfully completed the challenge and his Just Giving Page is here
The BHF fund around £100 million of research each year into all heart and circulatory diseases and the things that cause them. Heart diseases. Stroke. Vascular dementia. Diabetes. The list continues and this is why their work is essential.
SPOCE MD Paul Bradley and SPOCE’s Lead Project Management Trainer Harley Richards have cycled from London to Brighton to raise awareness an funds for the charity on the 18th of June. They finished the immense ride and if you wish to contribute directly to this cause, their Just Giving link is the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/ridefar
SPOCE will continue to raise funds and awareness for a wide variety of charities. If your organisation, colleagues, family or friends would like to suggest charities please drop us an email at sales@spoce.com or comment below. Last weekend on Sunday 18th of June, SPOCE MD Paul Bradley and Lead Project Management Trainer Harley Richards cycled the immense London to Brighton cycle ride for the British Heart Foundation.
With the adverse weather, massive hills and congested traffic, the event presented our boys with major issues they had to overcome. Starting at Clapham Common, the sun was shining and the heat was already getting to all of the riders. Dehydration could have been a major issue; prepared for this, the pair were carrying over 6 litres of fluids between them. Being project management experts, they had sat and identified as many risks as possible and got planning.
The “known unknowns” were catered for and their rucksacks were packed accordingly. The hills on route were something that they (admittedly) underestimated. As PRINCE2® PMs, one of the first activities they actioned was asking those who had completed this challenge before them for advice and lessons.
They had been told “there is one big hill at the end… Ditchling Beacon”. While this turned out to be true, the other steep climbs had clearly been downplayed in an attempt not to scare Paul and Harley.
Thankfully they had carried out vigorous training and were able to complete all of the climbs successfully, Ditchling Beacon included! Finally the traffic on route was managed by the superb marshals on the event day. With partial road closures for the event, the traffic was guided by teams on foot or motorbikes to helps keep the cyclists safe. The organisation of the event by not only their team, but every local authority from Lambeth to Brighton was outstanding.
As far as projects go, this was without a doubt one of the most impressive our team have witnessed. SPOCE have donated £300 directly to the British Heart Foundation through the Just Giving page that Harley and Paul have been fundraising on.
At present, over £1,000 has been raised and we hope much more can be raised still. If you would like to donate, please see the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/ridefar
On April 23rd 2023, a member of the SPOCE family, Oakley Richards, ran the 2023 London Marathon to raise funds for Independent Age. Oakley faced serious challenges just getting to the start line, let alone running the 26.2 miles before the finish line, which make his achievement all the more impressive.
Oakley was due to run in the 2022 London Marathon in October last year. Unfortunately, with just 48 hours to go, Oakley fell ill with tonsilitis and COVID at the same time! Needless to say, he was unable to even walk around the hotel, let alone to the start line. Heartbroken, he was frantically communicating with Independent Age to defer his race entry; thankfully he was able to and vowed that April 23rd would be “redemption day”.
Independent Age are a charity who provide free information and advice for older people and their families on care and support, money and benefits and health and mobility. One of their key missions is to create, maintain and aid friendship services to relieve loneliness. With the United Kingdom facing funding and care strain for our aging population, something has to be done to help.
In 2022 over 1 million people accessed their services through contact in person, phone calls and more. This shows the extent of which care for our older generations has decreased and shows exactly why a charity like Independent Age is necessary.
With this driving force in his mind, Oakley ferociously ran the 26.2 miles… in the pouring rain! He had blisters, swelling, and was cold and cramping. Regardless, he kept his feet moving in the right direction.
The entire SPOCE team and our partners are incredibly proud of Oakley and what he has achieved having overcome so much. SPOCE have donated £300 directly to the Independent Age through the Just Giving page that Oakley has been fundraising on. If you would like to donate, please see the link below:
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