Cardgains challenges greetings industry to raise £25,000 as annual event hits London
Look out London – the greetings folk are on their way to the capital for the annual Cardgains Charity Challenge and determined to raise money to help beat motor neurone disease.
It’s a cause close to the industry’s hearts following the death of the legend that was David Hicks, founder of Really Good and Soul, and it’s brought the Sheffield-based buying group’s annual event to his home town of London for the second time.
Thursday, 29 June, is the big Look Out London day when Cardgains md Penny Shaw hopes around 75 people from across the greetings industry will be pounding the capital’s streets in a 25-mile loop starting and finishing in Paddington, and taking in many of the waterways, parks and gardens, mainly on the north side of the River Thames, just slipping south for a short while around Waterloo.
“Anyone can take part,” Penny told PG Buzz, “you don’t have to be a Cardgains member or supplier, we’d love to get 75 walkers if possible from across the greetings and gift industry, and we’d love to raise £25,000 – £1,000 for every mile – for this worthy charity close to the hearts of many following the passing of David Hicks.”
All monies raised will go to the MND Association which focuses on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by motor neurone disease in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Miles Robinson, Cardgains’ chairman, co-owner of House of Cards independent retail group and a very close friend of David’s, has been busy checking out the route and explained: “It’s been great fun so far, with two beautiful sunny days. We’re starting in Paddington and walking along the canal through Little Venice, Regents Park, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Victoria Park and coming out by the Olympic stadium at Stratford, which is the halfway point.
“The second half will follow the canal through Bow, Limehouse, Wapping, City of London, South Bank, Westminster, through Hyde Park, and finishing back at Paddington.”
The route is still being finalised but is expected to be roughly the same as the map below.
Last year’s Ultimate Ullswater event smashed its £22,000 target when 37 walkers completed the challenge in the Lake District, eventually totalling a £26,645 donation to Alzheimer’s Society. Over the past 25 years Cardgains’ charity events have covered over 1,500 miles and raised more than £350,000.
If you’re up for the 2023 challenge click this link to register, or you can use the registration form pictured, fill it in then scan or photograph and send to kerry@bridewelluk.co.uk.
Once registered you’ll be added to the email distribution list for further details and information – these emails will come from the lookoutlondon@cardgains.co.uk address.
There’s a JustGiving site already set up for sponsorship so friends, colleagues, relatives, neighbours etc, can donate direct, adding your name to their donation so your tally can be calculated.
Top: The Olympic Stadium is the halfway point for Cardgains’ 2023 event in memory of David Hicks, pictured (right) with Miles Robinson
