Publishers and retailers sign up for Cardgains’ Look Out London event supporting MND
The greetings industry is stepping up for Cardgains’ Look Out London charity walk with 27 folk already signed up, but there are plenty of spaces left to help reach the £25,000 target for the MND Association.
The buying group’s annual charity challenge is coming down south this year with a 25-mile route around the capital mapped out for the event on Thursday, 29 June, and the organisation’s md Penny Shaw is hoping 75 people from across the industry will be pounding the streets – and you don’t need to be affiliated to Cardgains to join the throng.
Miles Robinson, Cardgains chairman and House of Cards co-owner, selected the walk and is undertaking a recce of the 25-mile walking loop which starts and finishes in Paddington, 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.
This year’s cause is close to many industry 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.
The list of walkers signed up so far is below, and Penny said: “We have some regular walk veterans who know what to expect and some walk virgins, who’ll have no clue! Welcome to everyone.
“I’m sure many already know each other but any newbies can familiarise themselves with people and think about who they might want to walk with and chat to – or avoid!
“This is a fab start – and remember, if there’s anyone else in your circle who’s like to join in, please ask them to complete and return the registration form as soon as possible. Anyone can take part, you don’t have to be a Cardgains member or supplier, we’d love to raise £25,000 for this worthy charity close to the hearts of many following the passing of David Hicks.”
Walkers who have signed up to date include…
Abacus Cards, Sean Edwards
Cardgains, Penny Shaw and Helen McManus
Chester Bentley, Alex Lambrechts
Creative Sparrow, Hannah Curtis
Danilo, Daniel Prince
Doodle Press, Chayelee McQuade
Emma Bryan Design, Emma Bryan
Emotional Rescue, Brett Smith, David Greaves and Jennie Rutter
Gemar UK, Mark Drury
Green And Wilds, John Elmes
House of Cards, Miles Robinson, Nigel Williamson, Tracy Murray, Lynn Vigger, Jarrod Lee, Leila Wignall, Jillian Williamson and Amanda Barker
Hyve Group, James Ambrose
Paperlink, Tim Purcell
Presentation, Andrea Pinder
Progressive Greetings, Warren Lomax
Really Good, Nicole Mendelsohn
Wendy Jones-Blackett, Steve Jones-Blackett
Wrendale Designs, Lisa Marcuccio
Penny explained the idea behind the route is for people to get under the skin of the capital on one long summer’s day out as the estimates are it will take eight to 10 hours to complete, depending on walking speed.
The route takes in many of London’s waterways as well as several of London’s parks and gardens with plenty of green space including squares, churchyards, dockyards, terraces, and even a sky garden, as well as medieval passages, alleyways and mews.
There is a small amount of road walking on quiet, interesting ones – nothing like the M25 – and an astonishing range of ancient and modern architecture.
There are four stages:
Stage 1 Paddington Basin to King’s Cross – 6 miles
Stage 2 King’s Cross to Olympic Park – 6 miles and support stop
Stage 3 Olympic Park to Tower Bridge – 6 miles
Stage 4 Tower Bridge to Paddington Basin – 7 miles
The Look Out London JustGiving page is now live and donations have already begun, with all UK taxpayers able to use the Gift Aid option, which adds 25% to their donation.
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.
Penny added: “We do recommend you do some sort of training for the event – if nothing else, to make sure your footwear is suitable and not cause you any blisters! I’ve seen blisters on blisters in the past, so please take heed! We believe the whole walk is doable in sturdy trainers, though some people might be happier in boots.”
If you’d like to join in the 2023 challenge click this link to register, or you can use the registration form pictured below, 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.
