Knockout challenge

Essex and South Anglia are hosting a family fun day’ on Sunday 30 June as part of their 2019 Ops Fundraising Challenge efforts for Action for Children.

The event will include an ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition, featuring the same kind of crazy games that were integral to the success of the hit British game show of the same name, first broadcast in 1966.

Bishop’s Stortford delivery office manager, Sarah-Jane Larkins, said: ‘It originally started as an idea from North Essex operations manager, Daniel Lawrence, to have an ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition, and things just grew from there.

‘This is the first event of its kind for Essex and South Anglia. The family fun day will have five-a-side football, a funfair, an It’s a Knockout Competition, plus craft stalls, food stalls and live music.

‘We’re really grateful to Chelmer Valley High School in Chelmsford for supporting us by offering us their outdoor space to use on the day.’

Jointly leading the event with Sarah-Jayne, Daniel Lawrence has taken a very hands-on approach to planning the event. ‘

‘We’re really excited about the day as it’s going to bring everyone together, while raising money for a very worthwhile cause. We still have some spaces free for the It’s a Knockout teams, so speak to your colleagues and get your friends and family to sign-up today.

‘This is our time to invest in children, children who will one day grow to succeed us. We have the ability to make them matter. There is no greater reward or prize in my mind that outweighs their potential to succeed.’

Each It’s a Knockout team is made up of 10 people. The entrance fee to take part is £15 per person and the challenges include,

• The Wall of Doom - tackle ‘The Terminator’ assault course before putting your hand inside the Wall of Doom to collect a series of critters
• Beat the Cube – clamber over the giant slide before taking aim at the target to win a piece of the cube
• The Teletubby Challenge - dress up as a Teletubby and hula-hoop over the ‘Bish-Bash’ before collecting another hoop to throw over your coloured marker
• The Ultimate Relay - an assault course with a four-person sack race to finish
• Rise to the Challenge – keep your water inside the buckets and parachutes while completing the assault course
• Cannon Run – in pairs, team members have to carry their cannon in pieces across the assault course before building it and taking aim
• The Foam Pit – in pairs, contestants will bounce upon a space hopper into a foam pit to find coloured balls to throw at a target, eight feet above them.

Sarah-Jane said: ‘Our It’s a Knockout competition is set to make a lot of people laugh as they test their skills like never before.’

To enter a team, email  sarah-jayne.l.larkins@royalmail.com or phone 07802 827 287.