Consultants from Gate One run the Rat Race for social enterprise
A team of 17 consultants was among participants braving the elements at an annual Rat Race. The team survived the 13 mile assault course in the name of charity, helping to raise thousands of pounds for a social enterprise based in London’s South Bank.
The Rat Race Dirty Weekend is the largest and most innovative obstacle racing weekend in the world. Taking place on the world’s longest obstacle course, races include both 13 and 20 mile scenarios, with competitors bidding to raise money for good causes across the UK. The event as a whole raked in a total of £1 million for Children with Cancer UK, but individuals and firms also used it as an opportunity to fund charities of their own choosing.
One company suffering through the mud and toil of this year’s event was consultancy Gate One. A team from the firm completed the 13 mile course, dodging 150 obstacles en route to the finish, in support of corporate social responsibility partner Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB). The social enterprise and development trust seeks to make London's South Bank – where Gate One is based – a better place in which to live, to work and to visit. CSCB has already transformed a largely derelict 13 acre site into a thriving mixed use neighbourhood by creating new co-operative homes; shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and sports facilities as well as organising festivals and events, and providing childcare, family support, learning, and enterprise support programmes.
Three CSCB members accompanied Gate One’s team on their marathon endurance task, with Harjinder Nijjar, Daniel Gibbs and Jamie Stapylton completing the course, as did all Gate One’s “Rat Racers”. While the group of 17 Gate One staffers raised over £3,500 via their triumphant run, that was not enough for two members of the crew. James Cooper and James Cumberland, took it up a gear by completing the 40 mile Rat Race Double, covering an incredible 40 miles and completing 400 obstacles over the space of ten hours.
Simon Dennis, Partner and one of the finishers, said, “It was awe-inspiring stuff watching so many rat racers throw themselves into the challenge with such gusto and courage.” Commenting on the efforts of Cooper and Cumberland in particular, Dennis added, “This was one of the most inspirational physical feats I’ve had the honour to witness.”
The remaining contingent from Gate One consisted of Gemma Sarjeant, Steven Horan, Laura Fenton, Chris Quinn, Alex McEvoy, James Swaffield, Michael Gouden, Lucy Richardson, Alex Jewkes, Sarah Kinvig, Sean Dhadialla, Jennifer Nixon and Ali Burton and James Brewin, who arrived at the firm from EY last year.
