Rutland company sets itself challenge to raise £40,000 for good causes

A Rutland company is celebrating four decades of business by setting itself the challenge of raising £40,000 for good causes.

Glaston-based consulting engineers and surveyor, Smithers Purslow, reached the 40-year landmark in May, and now the company plans to celebrate its anniversary by raising more than £40,000 for local and national

charities.

Locally, the company will be supporting the Evergreen Trust and other charities nominated by staff, while nationally the main beneficiaries will be the Rainbow Trust childrenâ s charity and the Make A Wish Foundation.

The company has changed considerably since it was founded in May 1979 by Norman Smithers and Graham Purslow, who rented a small office in High Street, Oakham, employing an adminstration assistant and a draughtsman.

Today the company employs 50 people, and staff have embraced the firmâ s fundraising campaign â among the feats being attempted are the Three Peaks Yacht Race, an online auction displaying 40 pieces of work, a charity golf day and a German-themed Oktoberfest at Uppingham

School.

The first challenge is the one of the toughest long-distance events in the world, the Three Peaks Yacht Race, which starts on June 9.

Director Andrew Bussey said: â The race involves teams of four or five sailing from Barmouth to Fort William, with two of the crew climbing the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland en route, running the equivalent of three marathons in three or four days.

â Itâ s a unique event combining 400 miles of sailing, 75 miles of running and 30 miles of

cycling.

â The team has never tackled anything like this before and the crew will be going way above and beyond previous experiences and pushing themselves to the limits in order to raise crucial funds for these amazing charities.â

To support the fundraising campaign, visit www.smitherspurslow.com/charity or email charityâ smitherspurslow.com

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