4th September 2006
UnumProvident is once again encouraging its staff to participate in a thousand mile run between Lands End and John O'Groats to raise funds for charity. The UK's leading disability insurer is calling on companies big and small to support the Le Jo'G initiative by entering teams for all or part of the run.
Since the conception of the race in 2001, UnumProvident has been the title sponsor and together with a charity sailing regatta in 2002 has helped raise over £125,000 for CLIC Sargent. Last year the staff of Unum Provident alone raised £29,000; a figure which they hope to beat this year in aid of SeeAbility (formerly The Royal School for the Blind), a nationally registered charity which works with adults who are blind or visually impaired and have other complex disabilities. SeeAbility has been elected UnumProvident's principle charity for 2006.
Susan Ring, Chairman and Managing Director, at UnumProvident, said:
We are very proud that for the fifth year running UnumProvident will be entering a full 101 strong team. It's become part of the company's tradition that each year we all put on our running shoes and set off across the country to raise money for charity.
This year we are running for SeeAbility and we hope that we can smash last year's record and raise over £30,000. As well as raising funds for charity Le Jo'G is a great event for team building and personal development.
Lucy Sargent of SeeAbility commented:
We are thrilled that UnumProvident has chosen SeeAbility as its principle charity this year. The money they will raise via events such as Le Jo'G will help us significantly in our work to support people with disabilities who don't currently get access to eye care and are in danger of losing their sight.
The Le Jo'G event involves teams of either 7 or 8 runners per day - or 101 runners in total - depending on whether a team wishes to run just one of the 70 mile daily sections or the entire 1000 mile route. Each runner raises money through sponsorship and companies select a charity of their choice to benefit from the proceeds. This year, runners will be accompanied by a tandem cyclist who is partially sighted.
The race runs between 2nd and 16th September 2006. A free information pack and further details are available from Peter Barnett at UnumProvident on 01306 646077 or peter.barnett@unumprovident.co.uk.
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