Computer People ërun for funí and raise over 6,300 at Womenís Hydro Active Challenge

Computer People, the market leader in IT recruitment, raised over 6,300 at the Womenís Hydro Active Challenge on Sunday 3rd September. 70 Computer People female staff participated in the 5k events held in Londonís Hyde Park, Birmingham City Centre and Liverpool. The London event saw the charity run kicked off by our very own Paula Radcliffe.

Computer Peopleís runners all started training back in April for the race and activities such as planned ëofficeí runs after work helped to prepare for the event. The charity supported was Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Computer Peopleís own nominated charity of the year.

Jane Binner, associate director at Computer People commented: ìMost of us had never run anything like this before, it was going into new territory, but it was a fabulous experience and a lot of fun. There were runners of all shapes, sizes, outfits, charities, backgrounds, abilities and disabilities.î

Binner continued: ìOur own ëeliteí runners were Tina Gardner, account director for Fujitsu and Vikki Peter and Louise Oliver of marketing in 25 minutes, 26 minutes, 26 minutes and 10 seconds respectively. Our biggest single fundraiser was Kathryn Pope, one of our administration managers, who raised nearly 400 mostly from the people she supports.î

Despite raising an excellent sum of money and a great initiative for the UKís leading IT recruiter, there were a few worries about the event:

- Most of us hadnít even started before the elite runners had finished

- Sarah practised on the university running track complete with bunny ears, which gave the students a bit of a shock
Laura damaged her hairstyle

- Jennine injured her knee after running two metres

- Louise has injured her chest muscles by not wearing the correct corset

- Sandeep cracked her foundation

Kerry caught the sun, and now canít move her face
Leigh tripped on the Computer People poster before we even started the race

Louise was famous in Birminghamís Irish Community following the event, after a photo of her at the race in her cycling shorts featured in a free Irish version of the Big Issue called en craic.

Accompanying 300 dpi photography of the Computer People runners is available on request. Further details regarding the event can also be found at: