Grassroots go the distance for diabetes

A team from Stockport based Grassroots Recruitment put their collective eight feet forward and went the distance for diabetes.

The Grassroots team took on the arduous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, trekking 24 miles with 1600m of ascent to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

Richard Brown (41), Steven Byrne (44), Rick Pennell (47) and Theo Hall (26) raised £1,261 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Grassroots chose this charity as Business Manager, Rick Pennell has a son who suffers from the illness. Will, aged 7, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 3-years-old.

Rick Pennell, Theo Hall, Molly Marsden, Steven Byrne, Richard Brown, Caroline Patten at the finish line.

Rick said:

“We’ve been big supporters of JDRF for many years because of the incredible work they do with families and particularly young sufferers of Type 1 Diabetes. Naturally it is a cause that’s very close to our hearts and it’s great that everyone at Grassroots has been so keen to support it.”

The team set off at 7:30am and finished the walk in 11 hours and 31 minutes, beating the 12 hour challenge JDRF set them. The colleagues are far from athletes so the challenge proved very difficult for them throughout the day.

Rick added:

“We knew it was going to be tough and we were proved right. However, it was enormous fun, despite having all the seasons in one day, and the tired legs and aching muscles are definitely worth it for the amount of money we raised for this great cause.”

Type 1 diabetes affects 400,000 people in the UK, with over 29,000 of them children. The numbers are increasing by about four per cent each year and particularly in children under 5-years-old, with a five per cent increase each year in this age group over the last 20 years.

Steven Byrne, Director of Grassroots Recruitment, said:

“A well organised and superb challenge set up by JDRF.  We hope the actions of the Grassroots team will make a difference, especially for a charity so important to our company.”