RCVS staff and Council members raise over £3,200 for homelessness charity

RCVS Council members and staff have raised over £3,200 for the housing charity Shelter by taking part in the national #TwoPointSixChallenge over the weekend to help save the UK’s charities.

The challenge began at 7am on Sunday 26 April 2020 and lasted until midday on Monday 27 April. It involved some 47 different people running, walking, cycling or mobility scootering 2.6 miles in a virtual relay to raise money for Shelter, which provides help and advice for people on housing issues, including the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.

Those who took part in the relay race included our President Niall Connell and his wife Colette, VN Council Chair Racheal Marshall, RCVS Treasurer Kit Sturgess, Senior Vice-President Amanda Boag, and RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett, as well as RCVS Council members Linda Belton, Mark Castle, Danny Chambers, Melissa Donald, Jo Dyer, Gary England, Richard Hammond, Claire McLaughlan, Susan Paterson, Cheryl Scudamore, Neil Smith, James Wood, and Judith Worthington. More than 20 staff from the RCVS and RCVS Knowledge also took part in the relay.

Niall Connell commented: “This is an amazing achievement and I am very glad I could do my part in scootering the distance that others variously ran, walked and cycled in order to raise money for this very worthy and important charity.

“As a housing charity Shelter has been hearing from more and more people who, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, are worried about losing their jobs and their homes, getting into debt and keeping their families safe and so we are very glad to help them meet this increased demand for help.

“I am particularly grateful to the many people who have made a donation so far as a result of the relay, particularly during these straitened times. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.”

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, added: “I am very proud of our staff who took the time out of their weekends – including late at night and during the early hours of the morning – to take part in this endeavour. It demonstrates that, while we may be scattered far and wide, there is still a thriving community spirit at the RCVS. I’d like to thank Dr Greer Wild, our Policy Officer, for organising the event and successfully encouraging so many people to take part, and our Communications Team for helping to spread the word and raise funds for such a worthy cause.”

Donations can still be made via the event’s JustGiving page.

All the updates from the virtual relay are still available to see on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages (@theRCVS) along with a montage of pictures submitted by RCVS staff and Council members during their journeys.

Below is a list of all participants of the challenge.