Local Businesses set for Alton Towers 10K run to help provide Beds for Kids
Businesses are once again coming together for a popular 10K race to support a local charity’s mission to provide brand new beds to children who do not have one of their own.
Following that event more than £5,000 was raised and helped to provide around 30 bed kits – which include a bed, bedding and a mattress.
This time around Sarah Biggs, of White Dove Wills & Planning, Nick Pilgrim of Cinerobota, Veronica Kitton of VK Business Assist, Sonia Price of Careers at Recruitment will be joining Executive Lead at Emmaus North Staffs, John Webbe and Matthew Tolley of Hayo Energy – who took part in the race last year.
“We had some fantastic support when we took part in the Alton Towers 10K last time and we are al set to take part again on Sunday 16 November this year,” says John.
“The team are really geared up for the race and have all been doing what they can to prepare. Some are also being accompanied by their children for the race which is great.
“Last year we set a target of £5,000 which we beat and all went to support our Beds for Kids campaign. It would be incredible if we could reach that target again so we can help to provide more beds to children who do not have one of their own.”
Matthew Tolley said: “I was keen to support John and the charity again for this year’s 10K race as bed poverty for children in North Staffordshire is quite staggering and if we can do anything to help we will.”
Emmaus North Staffs – who work to end furniture poverty in North Staffordshire – launched their ‘Beds for Kids’ campaign in 2022, after seeing an increasing demand from families struggling to afford basic furniture for the home.
Since then the charity have supplied more than 300 bed kits with each bundle costing approximately £225.
John adds: “There is an estimated 9,000 local children who do not have a bed of their own to sleep on and will be either sleeping on the floor, on a mattress on the floor or sharing with a sibling or parent.
“For a child not to have a bed to sleep in can seriously have an impact on their schooling and mental health and we have seen this first hand which is why we launched our campaign a couple of years ago.”
The charity are located at New Hall Street, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
The Alton Towers 10K race takes place on Saturday 16 November.
