“30 miles is certainly a long way when you are walking!!!” stated GBCC national accounts administrator Becky Whitson, who together with five colleagues from the Gloucester-based card publisher undertook and completed the Cardgains Almscliffe Anniversary Amble recently, which was a gruelling 30 mile route up hill and down dale in Yorkshire to raise money for the Sue Ryder charity, the buying group’s charity of choice for this year.
While Cardgains sets a major charity challenge every year, this is the first time the GBCC team signed up to the challenge, joining the 24 hardy cardies who completed the route.
Commenting on the recent event, Michael McGunnigle, GBCC’s national account manager summed it up as “a fantastic day and was a great accomplishment both personally and collectively. Doing something like this can only be made easier when you walk as part of a team. Also, all GBCC participants this year were Cardigans’ walk virgins…and we went all the way!”
In addition to Becky and Michael, the GBCC walking posse included Laura Edgington (management accountant), Toni Griffin (charity administrator), Fliss Hemms (production assistant) and Tracey Jackson (export sales).
“If there had been a camera to catch the moment we all attempted to get out of the car after the drive back it would certainly have given everyone a giggle!” admitted Becky. “Thankfully the blisters are healing, the aches and pains are subsiding and we only have one major casualty on crutches!”
GBCC has currently raised over £2,000 for Sue Ryder.
In addition to the sponsorship for the walkers, GBCC’s Gloucester head office staff have run cake sales, a guess the how many sweets in a jar competition and a sweep-stake on how long it would take the team to walk the course. (Anyone wishing to donate, can do so via Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2019cardgainscharitychallenge)
Coinciding with the 30 miles of movement for the GBCC walkers was a significant ‘stationery’ product launch. Having announced three months ago that it had set up a Gifts Division (https://www.pgbuzz.net/gbcc-appoints-whs-katy-golden-to-head-up-its-new-gifts-division/), headed up by gift and stationery expert, Katie Golden, comes the launch of The Joy of Journalling. Made in the Cotswolds, the inaugural range comprises nine A5 96 page journals the covers of which have been designed by leading GBCC artist Miki Rose. A dedicated counter top FSDU is also available.
Top: The GBCC team ready for the off!
