London Recruitment team wins trophy in gruelling corporate challenge

One of the UKís top charity endurance events ñ the State Street Caledonian Challenge ñ will this month award the top twenty teams out of the three hundred plus teams who started the gruelling 54-mile walk from Fort William to Ardlui in Scotland, attempting to raise 1 million for charity.

A team of consultants from Walker Hamill, a leading Leveraged Finance & Private Equity Recruitment Firm in St Jamesís, London, have just been named as the ëFastest Recruitment Teamí. By transferring their team spirit from the office to the great outdoors, the colleagues raised 4,300 for charity and picked up their trophy from the challengeís Event Director, Sally Anne Hunter.

The Walker Hamill team, known as the Walker Hamill Wanderers, consisted of Tim Smith, Steve Powney, James Knott and Matthew Venning. They completed the challenge in 19 hours and 37 minutes.

The State Street Caledonian Challenge is perhaps the most challenging yet rewarding fundraising event of its kind. Teams of between three and six, each representing companies, from throughout the UK and beyond, walk 54 miles of the West Highland Way within a 24-hour period, passing through some of Scotlandís most spectacular scenery.

The Challenge, which took place for the ninth year on the 18/19th June, attracted a record number of 1403 walkers, each of whom commit to raise a minimum of 500 for charity. 75% finished this yearís event as participants battled through what was probably this summerís most inclement weather, which ranged from stifling heat to thunder and lightning storms.

Nevertheless, the walkersí endeavours look set to raise over 1 million to support the work of the Scottish Community Foundation, which supports local charities and community groups right across Scotland through the creation of a permanent endowment for Scotland and the making of targeted grant awards.

This will bring the total amount raised by the State Street Caledonian Challenge, since it started in 1997, to over 5 million. Over 600 grants have been awarded to Scottish charities and community organisations thanks to this money.

During the 24-hour period, walkers set off from the forestry track in Fort William, heading through Glen Coe via the íDevilís Staircaseí to cross the remote Rannoch Moor and onwards to Loch Lomond.

Matthew Venning, one of the members of the ëFastest Recruitment Teamí said their success was a result of team-working:

ìI had climbed Kilimanjaro before, but this was harder and we probably under trained for the event, making finishing a real challenge. I hit a wall at 33 miles and it was down to pure team spirit that got us through all the ups and downs. We really enjoyed the build up to the event - there was lots of chat about what kit to take and I think we will all continue to keep trekking in the future.î

The Caledonian Challenge Events Director, Sally-Anne Hunter, said: ìThe challenge always demands both a high level of fitness and strength of mind and every participant should be commended for their endurance, determination and sense of team spirit ñ such qualities are enabling us to support even more community projects across the country.î