Home Newcastle Banks Group Staff Getting Active To Boost Samaritans Fundraising Total

Banks Group Staff Getting Active To Boost Samaritans Fundraising Total

Staff from North East property and energy firm The Banks Group are getting active this month to help raise money for their dedicated charity.

Employees at the Durham-headquartered, family-owned firm chose to support The Samaritans right through 2019, and has so far raised around £1,500 by undertaking a range of fundraising activities, including workplace lunches, dress down days, raffles and cake bakes.

A Banks team is set to take part in the gruelling Total Warrior event in the grounds of Bramham Park in Leeds this weekend, which involves running a 12 kilometre course which features 25 punishing obstacles.

And at the end of the month, community relations manager Lewis Stokes will be lining up for the Lakeland Trails Ultra 55K race, which starts and finished in Ambleside and takes in a complete circuit of the central Lake District along footpaths and bridleways.


The race route requires competitors to go over three different mountain passes and includes around 7,000 ft of climbs and descents.

The Samaritans provides a safe place for people to talk at any time about whatever’s getting to them and reaches more than 500,000 people every year via its free 116 123 phone number, its free email service and via outreach work in railway stations, schools, hospitals and businesses.

The organisation has over 200 branches across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, including eight across Northern England, recruited and trained 4,000 new branch volunteers during 2017 and has more than 20,000 people volunteers in total.

Lewis Stokes says: “It’s the second time that a Banks team has taken part in the Total Warrior event, so we know just how tough the course that awaits us will be, but we’re confident that we’ll getting everyone over the line once again by working together all the way round.

“The Lakeland Trails Ultra 55K will be as far as I’ve ever run, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and hope the Lake District’s amazing scenery will be an inspiration!”

Sara Ellis, a member of The Banks Group’s charity fundraising committee, adds: “The Samaritans’ support often makes a life-saving difference in the very darkest moments of people’s lives and we’re proud to be helping such a highly-regarded and important organisation carry out its invaluable work.”

For more information on the work of and help available from The Samaritans, follow @samaritans on Twitter.