Manchester team completes 37-mile trek to raise over £20K for local children’s charity

A team of colleagues from Cheadle-based lender Together have completed a 37-mile trek in Croatia, raising over £20,000 for local children’s charity the Seashell Trust.

Together’s first-ever international challenge saw a team of ten colleagues from the specialist lender complete four days of trekking through the Istrian Mountain region into Ucka National Park, to raise money for the Seashell Trust.

Based in Cheadle Hulme, education care charity the Seashell Trust provide a creative, happy and secure environment for young people with complex needs and additional communication challenges from across the UK.

The team from Together raised over £20,000 in donations for the charity. They were faced with many challenges along the way, covering 37 miles and climbing 7,792ft.

On the fourth day, the team scaled three mountains in a single day. This included climbing Ucka, the highest point of the trek at 1401m.

Paul Kennedy, Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Together said: “I’m really proud to have been part of the team to complete Together’s first-ever international challenge and would like to congratulate all of my colleagues for their efforts in raising such an impressive donation for our colleague charity partner, the Seashell Trust. 

“The trek was incredibly challenging; we started in a really good place, but as the days wore on and the weather deteriorated, it became less about fitness and more about mindset. On the last day, the team all pulled together to encourage each other up the mountain and over the finish line.

“At Together, it’s incredibly important to us to give back to the community, so we’re delighted to have raised money for such an important cause.”

Brandon Leigh, CEO at Seashell Trust said, “Seashell is very fortunate to have such a valued supporter in Together. Having met several members of staff, many of whom have volunteered at Seashell, it is very obvious just how committed they are to making a difference in the lives of the children and young adults in our care through Together’s ‘Let’s Get Giving’ initiative.”

The challenge was completed as part of Together’s ‘Let’s Get Giving’ initiative, which supports a wide range of worthy causes locally and nationally.

Past donations include £26,000 to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to support the refurbishment of its Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, and over £15,000 to St. Ann’s Hospice after 26 colleagues completed a Three Peaks Challenge.