Ten staff from Scotmid hit the slopes to take on the world’s tallest mountain on Saturday 20 June, in a snowy ski challenge for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
Completing the 8,848 metre distance over 45 runs of the 200 metre indoor ski slope at Snow Factor in Braehead, the team have so far raised over £2500 for Anthony Nolan, Scotmid’s charity of the year.
This year, Scotmid introduced a new Mini Everest Challenge for kids aged 3 and upwards which involved completing 20 sledging runs.
All funds raised will be matched by Scotmid and donated to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.
Scotmid’s Neville Muir, who organised the Everest Challenge, said: “We wanted to do the Everest Challenge because it’s a fun and different way to raise money. The challenge saw staff, their family and friends skiing, snowboarding or bum boarding the equivalent height of Mt Everest in 45 runs. One of the most challenging parts about it is actually going on the lift back up to the top as it’s very physically demanding.”
Lila Dowie, Senior Corporate Partnership Manager for Anthony Nolan, said: “‘We are so overwhelmed with all of Scotmid’s support of Anthony Nolan throughout our partnership and yet again, staff surprise and amaze us by organising this inspirational event. It’s certainly one of the most unique fundraisers we’ve seen and we just can’t thank them enough.”
The partnership between Anthony Nolan and Scotmid Co-operative – including its brands Semichem, Lakes & Dales Co-operative and Scotmid Co-operative Funeral Directors – has seen more than 5,000 Scotmid staff at 350 stores transformed into the ‘Scotmid Lifesavers’ in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the charity. Scotmid has set itself a fundraising target of £200,000 for the year-long partnership.
Anthony Nolan uses its donor register to match potential bone marrow donors to blood cancer patients in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. At present, less than 60% of patients in need of a bone marrow transplant can find a perfect match.