21 Dec 2016 Community

David Brown Santasalo staff lace up for Kirkwood Hospice

Back in the summer, staff from the Huddersfield-based engineering firm, David Brown Santasalo, took on the mammoth 45 mile Keswick to Barrow (K2B) charity walk, all to raise an impressive £1,135 for Kirkwood Hospice.

In early May, the Lockwood based team, made up of organisers David Lockwood and Keith Wright and walkers Neil Bedford, Chris Hinchliffe, Robin Clegg, Ian Tunnacliffe, Gary Smith, Craig Denton and Duncan Haigh embarked on a long and strenuous day.

Rising at 4am in Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick and not reaching the finish line in Barrow-in-Furness until 6pm the same day, the seven walkers navigated sharp ascents, steep descents and bodies of water to complete their mission. Averaging a completion time of between nine and a half and 12 hours, the resilient staff-members managed to engineer a successful trek.

The Team left to right: Duncan Haigh, Chris Hinchliffe, Neil Bedford, Robin Clegg, Keith Wright and Gary Smith with David Lockwood and Kirkwood Hospice's Nicola Barber at front with cheque.

 

Almost 2,000 walkers, adults and children, rise to the challenge of the sponsored K2B walk that takes place annually in Cumbria. All done in one day, walkers navigate almost the entire length of the Lake District to raise funds for their chosen charities, this year raising a grand total of £350,000.

The roots of Keswick to Barrow are thought to date back to the 1960’s as a result of a statement made by U.S. President John F Kennedy that “every American should be capable of walking 50 miles a day.”

At the time, American experts were involved in the construction of the HMS Resolution at Barrow Shipyard and the idea of the walk was conceived to build relationships between the submarine crew and the shipyard workers.

Celebrating its 50th year, K2B amped up its mileage this year from its usual 40 miles to 45 miles to mark the special year.

Loyal staff at David Brown Santasalo have been putting their best foot forward in aid of Kirkwood Hospice for the last 15 years, with one walker completing all but one of the events. Raising over £1,000 each year, David Brown Santasalo have raised a staggering total for Kirkwood Hospice over the years.

Walk organiser, David Lockwood, is proud to be supporting the Hospice for the 15th year.

“It’s always been Kirkwood Hospice we’ve supported right from day one." David Lockwood

“It’s always been Kirkwood Hospice we’ve supported right from day one. It’s my personal 12th year of being involved with the event – either walking it or organising it and it’s been Kirkwood all those years.

“A lot of people who first started the walk had lost someone in Kirkwood. Everyone who does the walk now and everyone that works here knows someone or has a connection to Kirkwood somehow.

“I lost my father-in-law in Kirkwood and they were absolutely brilliant. We donate to Light up a Life every year and we have a plaque by the tree. Every year on the day of the service, we go down after everyone else has gone home and no matter how dark it is, my wife can always find the plaque. It’s amazing.”

Kirkwood Hospice Community Fundraiser, Nicola Barber, was proud to meet the group at a recent cheque presentation and delighted at all of their efforts for the Hospice.

Nicola said: “David Brown Santasalo have been devoted supporters to the Hospice for many years and we can’t thank them enough for their contributions. Their efforts in both their walks completed and their funds raised are honourable and will make a real difference at Kirkwood.”