Five men from Blackstone Consultancy took on a six-day trek across the Sahara to raise money for the Children’s Air Ambulance. The charity flies critically ill children across the UK to specialist care. Simon Giddins, Rob Bates, Tom Tahany and Rufus Caldecott, plus Simon Bennett from Cloud Ten, sought to raise £22,500.
Blackstone is a London-based intelligence and security consultancy, recognised by the Spears 500 listing for private clients. Blackstone Managing Director Simon Giddins said the trek in Morocco had been not been without its trials. He said: “Seeing the sunrise over the desert was an incredible experience, as was seeing L’erg Zaher, the highest dunes in the area. The trek was often challenging, with scorching temperatures during the day and freezing desert nights. But we have a great team and the camaraderie got us through, even when the conditions got tough.
“We’re incredibly proud to support this life-saving charity. The work of the Children’s Air Ambulance is vital – as a parent, you feel reassured knowing their specialist crews are there.”
Simon thanked their sponsors. The team’s shirts were kindly sponsored by Cigna, Ecclesiastical, Geos360, The London Resolution, Pella Resources, James Hallam, Graphite Capital, Edenfells and Hampden & Co.
He added: “The Blackstone Consultancy Challenge sees us support a charity close to our hearts and our core values every year. So, last year we supported a veteran’s charity, for our background as former soldiers, this year it’s the Children’s Air Ambulance because we are all fathers or uncles and next year, we will be supporting a charity related to women, because we are all husbands and sons. Not only is it part of being a responsible and ethical company, but it’s important to give back to the community. At the end of the day, it’s nice to be nice.”
Community Fundraising Executive for The Children’s Air Ambulance, Anna Phillips, said: “On behalf of everyone at the charity and the families whose lives have been touched by the life-saving work of The Children’s Air Ambulance, we owe huge gratitude and respect to the Blackstone Consultancy team of Simon, Rob, Rufus, Tom and Simon for choosing to support us with their challenging five day trek across the Sahara Desert.
“Their commitment and dedication to undertake such an amazing personal endurance mission to help raise both funds and awareness for The Children’s Air Ambulance ensures we can keep our intensive care transfer service helicopters flying – we simply could not continue our work without the support and generosity of incredible people like them.”
Blackstone are a few thousand pounds from their target and are encouraging those that haven’t yet donated to do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/blackstoneconsultancy.
