Network Rail’s Telecom’s business and customer development team hosted a walk and talk event raising more than £1,200 towards the Railway Benefit Fund’s (RBD) £40,000 Christmas Children’s Appeal.
Walking has become a regular wellbeing feature of the team’s catch-up calls while working remotely, so adding an opportunity for a worthwhile charitable donation made perfect sense.
Alongside regular business and team updates, colleagues also shared mental health and wellbeing tips. At the end of the meeting, colleagues sent screen grabs of the app used to measure the final distances walked.
In total, colleagues walked over 220km in an hour on December 17 last year – the equivalent distance between the world’s first intercity railway (Warrington) and first public railway (Darlington).
Simon Atterwell, director of Network Rail Telecom said: “I’d like to thank my business and customer development team for organising such a worthwhile event for a worthwhile charity.
“While walking, breathing in fresh air away from laptops, the team also submitted scenic photos as well as evidence of the mileage.
“It was important not just in promoting and raising money for the charity, but also highlighting the importance of taking breaks and walking outdoors away from desks.”
RBF provides vital support to current and former colleagues and their families in times of need.
The Christmas Children’s Appeal, which hit the £40,000 target last month, has allowed the charity to support 130 UK rail families this winter.
As a charity, RBF relies on the generosity of its supporters and the donations its raises go straight to funding the welfare and crisis needs of people involved in the industry.
Pete Waterman, President of RBF, said: “The railway family has come together to make such a difference to rail children this Christmas.
“We are delighted to have reached the £40,000 target thanks to the efforts of so many people including those at Network Rail Telecom.”
Visit www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk for more details.