Buro Happold sponsors £1,500 – matching £1,500 raised by the runners
Three Buro Happold employees completed the prestigious London Marathon last weekend, as it celebrated its centenary year. In recognition of the worthy cause, international multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold contributed a sponsorship of £1,500.
Neil Coker and Richard Press, who work from the company’s London office, and David Hull, who is based in Leeds, all ran to raise money for their chosen charities.
Braving the elements for the RNLI
Neil Coker, associate for Buro Happold management, raised just under £700 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He completed the course in six hours, 45 minutes and 36 seconds. Neil said: “I decided to run this year's Flora London Marathon as it is some 14 years since my last. I felt that I should do one more at least just for the fun of it. I am keen on sailing and I was led by the example set by a disabled friend of mine. He has just crossed the Atlantic single-handed (quite literally as he only has the use of one arm) in support of the RNLI, and so I also decided to raise funds on their behalf.
“My training was woefully inadequate but I was never going to be trying for a fast time. Instead, I focused on enjoying the event. The atmosphere and support throughout was amazing. Meeting, running and sometimes walking with total strangers all intent on achieving the same end was a memory I shall always remember. We ran through a complete range of weather including glorious sunshine, hail, rain and cutting wind; but it was all fun.
“The satisfaction of crossing the line more than made up for the physical discomfort and soon to be discovered aches and pains. In comparison to some I got off lightly, merely losing a toenail and gaining a couple of blisters!”
Achieving a lifelong ambition – in under four hours!
Richard Press, senior façade engineer, completed the course in an amazing three hours, 38 minutes and 39 seconds. Richard ran for his chosen charity Centrepoint, which helps to improve the lives of homeless and socially excluded 16-25 year olds in the UK. With a fundraising target of £600, Richard has already exceeded his goal by over £200!
Richard said: “It’s been a life long ambition to run in the London Marathon. I’ve applied for the last five years and this is the first year I was successful in being accepted. I trained for four months before race day, since New Year. The atmosphere on the day was amazing, with everyone on the route shouting encouragement; it really spurs you on!
“My friends, family and work colleagues have all been very generous and I’m really grateful that my sponsorship tally has now exceeded £800.”
Raising money for a worthwhile cause
Finally, Buro Happold partner and building services discipline leader, David Hull, ran this, his first marathon, in aid of the registered charity ‘Training for Life’, which helps people trapped in long-term unemployment and homelessness to turn their lives around. He completed the course in an impressive four hours and 56 minutes.
He said: “The beginning was quite tough, but the day is one I will never forget. The opportunity to help such a worthwhile cause is the real icing on the cake. I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who wished me well and sponsored me. And to those of you who have run a marathon before, I’d like to know how many hot baths does it actually take before my legs will stop hurting?!”
In total, Buro Happold and the three brave runners have raised £3,000 for good charity through their participation in the marathon.
Ends
Note to Editors:
Buro Happold
Press Office and practice information at www.burohappold.com
For more information, please contact the Press Office.
Hannah Green
Assistant Press Officer
Tel +44 (0)1225 320627
Email hannah.green@burohappold.com
Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976. We now employ over 1,700 staff in 21 offices worldwide and our aim is to produce high quality engineering design in concept, in detail and in execution, on time, to programme and delivering excellent value for money. Our distinctive culture and ethos is still based on the same principles of care, value and elegance that were established when the practice was founded.
We offer structural, building services, civil, infrastructure and façade engineering, as well as a broad range of specialist consultancy services including sustainability, ground and environmental engineering, fire and security design, health and safety management, inclusive and urban design, project management, and specialist CAD and computer simulation provision.
