It’s the final countdown

Colleagues in Tees Valley have been making a monumental effort to raise money for Action for Children as part of their 2019 Ops Challenge fundraising.

Earlier this month, the management team raised a whopping £1,160 from colleague donations after they walked 22 miles of the Cleveland Way, a National Trail in ancient Cleveland in northern England, which runs 110 miles between Helmsley and the Brigg at Filey, skirting the North York Moors National Park.

Colleagues from across the region have been holding tea parties, running football cards and raffling off an ‘OPG duvet day,’ where people paid £1 a pop for operations manager, Jamie Walton, to complete their delivery and have a day off work - this alone raised £400.

‘We set about a whole host of small activities to keep up our proud fundraising traditions,’ said Jamie. ‘On top of this, we wanted to do something to challenge ourselves as a team, and decided on the Cleveland Way as it was in its 50th birthday year.

‘Although it was extremely difficult, we were rewarded with some spectacular views and really got to know each other better. We’re really happy with the money it raised!

‘Lucy Trethowan, delivery office manager, Teeside and Durham sector, as lead, has been driving all units to contribute, so it really has been a full team effort. We’re now thinking about how we do something different for next year.’

‘It has been an amazing effort from everyone involved,’ said Lucy. ‘But I would like to specifically mention Darlington team, who alone raised a massive £1,350!’

The Tees Valley fundraising tally now stands at £3,100, which will be matched by the business, bumping the total to £6,200 – an incredible sum, which will go to Action for Children’s pioneering schools-based mental health initiative, the Blues Programme.

Don’t stop now, it’s the final countdown…

There are now just five days left of the 2019 Ops Challenge and teams across the country have been racing down the final straight to try and raise as much money as possible to be crowned this year’s Ops Challenge champions.

This is your final chance to top the leader board and take home the trophy for your team! Whether it’s a quick dress down day, a giant scratch card jackpot, or a chance to guess the number of sweets in a jar - there are loads of easy fundraising ideas that you can still make happen between now and Wednesday 31 July.

Remember, the last day to bank your fundraising is Wednesday 31 July. Every penny raised will be matched by Royal Mail. Click here for information on banking your fundraising and ensuring your funds go straight to supporting your 2019 Ops Challenge team total.

All the money raised by Royal Mail employees must be processed through Charities Trust so that Royal Mail can match your donations, helping your support go even further.

If you are paying in your cash or cheque donations:

• Cash and cheques can be banked at any Post Office branch using a dedicated paying in slip for your Ops Challenge Team
• Contact Chris at Charities Trust on chrisr@charitiestrust.org to request a paying in slip and remember to let him know which team you are part of
• Cheques should be made out to Charities Trust. Please remember to write your name on the back of any cheques
• If you have completed a sponsorship form to claim Gift Aid on your donations, please attach your Post Office deposit receipts to the form and send them to:

Charities Trust
Suite 20-22
Century Building
Tower Street
Liverpool
L3 4BJ

Alternatively, you can fundraise online via Sponsor Me, Charities Trust’s online giving platform. If you have any questions about paying in your donations, please email Chrisat chrisr@charitiestrust.org or Vicky at RoyalMail@actionforchildren.org.uk.