BT says it's good to walk for Children in Need

A team of 17 BT employees based at the BT Contact Centre in Enniskillen is taking on a gruelling challenge in aid of the annual BBC Children In Need fundraising appeal.

Setting off from the BT exchange building at Broadmeadow Place on Thursday 13th November, the BT volunteers plan to walk the 90 miles from Enniskillen to Belfast in under 30 hours.

  

BT has supported BBC Children in Need for more than 30 years and this latest fundraising effort has also attracted significant sponsorship and support locally.  BT engineering colleagues will be providing support vehicles and drivers vital for the trip, A&E doctor, Dr Grace McMacken, will be accompanying the team on the journey while much -needed refreshments have been donated by Beech Vale Natural Water, Cavanacarragh.

    

Liam Brady, BT Contact Centre advisor from Kilmacormack is one of the 17 walkers and is hopeful that his fitness levels from playing football with Enniskillen Town United will help him on the journey. Liam said: “I’ve always wanted to do something for charity but never really had the opportunity until now. I watch the BBC Children in Need appeal every year and always donate, but I felt I could do more to help raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.   My goal is simply to make it to the finish line and raise as much money as possible on the way.”

    

Anita Maguire, BT’s duty manager and one of the organisers, said: “We have a fantastic team of committed people in Enniskillen who never refuse an opportunity to fundraise for worthy causes. We have all been training very hard over the past number of weeks and months in preparation for the walk in support of Children in Need and thanks to all the support we have received we are ready to go.”   

    

To support the team with this massive challenge offers of additional help are welcome in the form of physiotherapists, massage therapists and bucket collectors to help along the route.  Donations can also be made by using the free funding service MyDonate at www.bt.com/pudsey where every penny goes direct to the charity.”

This fundraising effort forms part of BT’s wider support for BBC Children in Need, as the charity uses BT’s MyDonate fundraising technology to process donations for the appeal.

As well as providing fundraising support, BT employees are getting involved by volunteering on the night to take calls from donating members of the public at five contact centres across the UK.

Learn more about BT’s long-standing partnership with BBC Children in Need and its wider support for charities at www.bt.com/improvinglives