Twenty SSE employees helped organise charity Rowans Hospice’s first annual ‘Race with Rowan’ which raised over £10,000 for the cause.
The event saw over 400 runners from all ages and abilities take part in a 10k race and 5k fun run under glorious sunshine. The SSE volunteers, usually based at the company’s Penner Road office near Portsmouth, took part in various tasks including marshalling, registering participants and helping to set up the race line.
Kirsty Robertson, an Internal Customer Support adviser at SSE, volunteered her time for the cause.
She said: “It’s great to see how a charity works in getting a big event together like this one.
“I really enjoyed helping out and everyone that took part was enthusiastic about the day. What a great warm up event for those taking part in bigger events later in the year.”
Sophie Gunner, Fundraiser at The Rowans Hospice, added: “The event was chosen as it appealed to most people, from family fun-runners to the more seasoned athlete, with a choice of two routes.
“The fun character ‘Rowan the Meerkat’ helped to represent Rowan’s Meerkat Service, which is part of the Rowans Hospice organisation. This service offers support to children and young people facing loss and bereavement.”
The Rowans Hospice is voluntary independent hospice which exists to provide specialist care to patients with life limiting progressive illnesses and also support their relatives and carers in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire areas. The service they provide is free and non-discriminating and is an asset to the local community.
Prizes were presented after the race to the winners of the Men’s 10k, Woman’s 10k and Veteran 10k and the 5k Fun Run.
SSE staff members have already completed over 4,600 Community at Heart days across more than 450 projects since April last year and continue to assist and reach out to local communities across the UK and Ireland.