A team of budding mountaineers from ABC Managed Services have taken on the 3 Peaks Challenge for the children, young adults and families who use the services of The Donna Louise and raised a fantastic £5500.
Since 2012, the team at ABC have donated over £30,000 to the Hospice, which provides a lifeline to hundreds of families across Staffordshire and South Cheshire who are facing every parent’s worst nightmare; the heart-breaking knowledge that they will almost certainly outlive their child.
“The ABC 3 Peaks Team picked up its fair share of bumps and bruises during the 24-hour challenge,” said ABC marketing director, Toni Gibiino.
“But it was worth it when you see what a fantastic role in the local community the Donna Louise are doing day in, day out.”
Steve Burgess, ABC’s managing director, has already set his sights on the next endurance challenge for the company, once again in support of The Donna Louise.
And Katie Tams, area fundraiser at The Donna Louise, thanked “Steve, Toni and their team of superheroes” at ABC Managed Services.
“We rely almost entirely on the support of the local community to offer a wide range of care services to hundreds of families across Staffordshire and Cheshire. Without the support of our local business community we simply would not be able to continue offering our services. So, thank you team ABC!”
ABC is still collecting in support of Donna Louise. Visit the managed services company’s Just Giving page here.
More about Donna Louise
Since being established in 1999, The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice provides respite care and so much more, to children and young adults living with life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.
ABC’s Steve Burgess said: “I feel very privileged to be involved in raising much needed funding and highlighting the amazing work Donna Louise does”.
“Donna Louise adds light at the darkest hour to our children, young people and families in need. They truly care about making a difference.”
– Steve Burgess, ABC MD
The Donna Louise team recognise that caring for a child or young adult with complex needs is an uphill struggle for any family, so they offer all-important respite breaks, allowing families to recharge their batteries while their loved ones are happy and safe.
Indeed, those young people who stay at The Donna Louise’s custom-built facility say it’s like “being on holiday”.
More about ABC Managed Services
ABC’s in-house managed technology services team helps businesses solve complex challenges and boost productivity across all aspects of operations.
From information technology, print and copy, document workflows, to telecoms, broadband, audio and visual displays, to visitor management and premises security, ABC can implement and optimise anything and everything central to your daily operations.
ABC managing director, Steve Burgess, has long been a big benefactor for charities. Each year, the company sets a mountainous challenge to raise money for charity. This time around, Steve had some big ideas – and by big, we mean seriously big. So when he suggested trying the 3 Peaks Challenge in support of the incredible work done by The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice, the team was quick to mobilise.
Little did we know, it would be a serious uphill battle! Of course, one doesn’t simply gather a team together then pop off for a quick 23 mile walk, uphill for a total of 10,052 feet. It takes a lot of training, hard-work and planning.
As a technology managed services provider, months of logistical pre-planning were nailed down. Alongside this? Training. Heavy training. Imagine Steve and the ABC boys in a Rocky training montage and you’ll get the picture.
Now we’ve successfully scaled the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales, here’s a video recap our rocky adventure.
Supporting Donna Louise charity
This wasn’t just a great test for the individuals in our team – it wasn’t even just a fantastic team-building exercise … it was a chance to raise a mountain of money for charity. Thus far we’ve raised over a whopping £10K and counting. Thank you to the team and all those who donated – it was the leg up the mountain we needed.
And we’re still collecting! Donna Louise is a fantastic cause – so visit our Just Giving page and help them do their amazing work.
Team ABC has scaled the Three Peaks Challenge in support of the charity The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice. The managed services company, which announced the event earlier in the year, has so far raised over £5,000 and counting.
“It was a tough but exhilarating experience,” said ABC managing director, Steve Burgess. Steve led the charitable expedition up and down Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon with colleagues including Edward Hopkinson, David Johnson, Iain Dunne, Chris Foxley, Ian Baldwin and Chris Bateman. On the last leg of the journey up and down Snowdon, the crew would be joined by family and friends.
“The team did a fantastic job,” said Steve, adding: “You can still contribute to help Donna Louise in the invaluable work it does to help children and young adults with life-limiting conditions, and their families.”
ABC, with head offices in Congleton, has long been a big benefactor of charities across Staffordshire, Cheshire and the wider UK. Each year, the company sets a mountainous challenge to raise money for charity. This time around, Steve suggested trying the Three Peaks Challenge in support of the incredible work done by The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.
“The response from the team was overwhelming and, with our managed services caps on, we quickly went into a planning and logistics phase ahead of the challenge,” he recalled. “One doesn’t simply gather a team together then pop off for a quick 23 mile walk, uphill for a total of 10,052 feet. It takes a lot of training, hard-work and planning. So, alongside this, we also embarked on months of physical training.”
Now ABC has successfully scaled the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales, let’s recap the rocky adventure.
Three Peaks Challenge 1: Ben Nevis
The team assembled at ABC HQ in Congleton, arriving at Ben Nevis base camp around 5pm. “We were determined to scale Scotland tallest peak and get safely back down before nightfall,” said sales director, David Johnson.
“A climb of 10,000 feet starts with a single step so it was important that we put our best foot forward.” As in business, the best laid plans can go awry and David revealed how “almost immediately into the climb one unfortunate colleague slipped and twisted an ankle.”
“That was not the start we’d planned. But, the secret of great teamwork is mutual support in times of need. It’s something the team excels at in the office and quickly applied to the climb.”
Despite the setback, the team’s spirits remained high and the climb commenced.
Ben Nevis proved to be the testing ground for the rest of the trip. Some team-members had been so enthusiastic, they had shot off at a pace. By the time they were half way up, the realisation that they had two more great peaks ahead of them set in. “So we slowed things down to a steadier pace with the bigger picture in mind,” added David.
Five and a half hours and one conquered summit later, the team returned – tired but elated.
Three Peaks Challenge 2: Scafell Pike
Taking a well-earned rest on the coach, the team drove through the night to England’s tallest peak: Scafell Pike. The business logistics planning had factored in that, as well as the 23 miles climb, there would be the small matter of the 462 miles drive between the peaks.
“The second ascent began at first light,” said Steve, underscoring that it was “less than six hours after completing the Ben Nevis climb”.
“Scafell Pike presented us with thick fog. The conditions were so harsh we were climbing with sticks but, once the fog cleared, the view was spectacular.”
In scenes reminiscent of something out of the Lord of the Rings, the team battled the tough conditions, completing the second climb on schedule. After five gruelling hours, they climbed back into the coach and headed off to Wales. Next stop: Snowdon.
Three Peaks Challenge 3: Snowdon
“Everything was going well,” recounts account director, Edward Hopkinson. “Then, our sales director injured his knee. This certainly added to the complexity of the final climb but we were all determined to finish as we started, together as a team.”
The ABC team was buoyed on the final peak by the arrival of a group of friends, family members and Steve’s dog, Pebbles. “That was the push we needed to power through and finish,” said Edward.
Back at the coach, many of the team were too tired to celebrate, but as they succumbed to sleep, needless to say they had accomplished something incredible.
Peak performance
In a Monday morning debrief, the team discussed how the adventure had thrown up business lessons from planning, logistics, legal requirements to maintaining health and safety standards. But, even the best laid plan can require some real-time improvisation as the team found out.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” rallied Steve, speaking from the more comfortable surroundings of the office. “Best of all, we’re continuing to raise a notable amount of money for The Donna Louise Charity.”
“A great team is made up of planners and improvisers, leaders and people who are willing to step up and take ownership when the situation demands. And, when you’re climbing a mountain – everyone has to step up and we did just that.”
We raised…
Thus far ABC has raised over a whopping £5K and counting. The company is still collecting. Donna Louise is a fantastic cause, so visit the Just Giving page to help them continue to do their amazing work.
More about Donna Louise
Since being established in 1999, The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice provides respite care and so much more, to children and young adults living with life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.
ABC Managing Director, Steve Burgess said: “I feel very privileged to be involved in raising much needed funding and highlighting the amazing work Donna Louise does”.
“Donna Louise adds light at the darkest hour to our children, young people and families in need. They truly care about making a difference.”
– Steve Burgess, ABC MD
The Donna Louise team recognise that caring for a child or young adult with complex needs is an uphill struggle for any family, so they offer all-important respite breaks, allowing families to recharge their batteries while their loved ones are happy and safe.
Indeed, those young people who stay at The Donna Louise’s custom-built facility say it’s like “being on holiday”.
What next…?
How do you get a bigger challenge than Britain’s three biggest peaks? ABC is already looking for a challenge for next year. What do you suggest?
At ABC Managed Services, we like to think we’re at the peak of our game. But, we’re always looking for new mountains to climb!
So when Managing Director, Steve Burgess, said to our staff, “How about trying the 3 Peaks Challenge, for charity?” he was overwhelmed with applicants.
That’s why not one, but two teams of ABC colleagues have accepted The Three Peaks Challenge. We’ll be scaling the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales. And it’s all in support of the incredible work done by The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.
Our teams will be walking 23 miles (37 km), whilst climbing up a total height of 10,052 feet (3,064 metres). The total driving distance between The Peaks is 462 miles (743 km).
And that’s not all – ABC’s fit and healthy bunch are not only going to climb the three peaks – we’re going to do it in record time!
The record for completing the climb and the drive between – is 14 hours and 36 minutes. We’re planning to smash that record!
So, we’ll need the speed of Superman, travelling like a bullet, to get us between the peaks – and the grit of Sly Stallone to get us up them. It’s gonna be a real cliffhanger!
Steve Burgess added: “At ABC, we pride ourselves on having a versatile and happy workforce who enjoy rising to challenges like this. They’re great for team building – and great for charity.”
So, here’s how you can help inspire our time to reach the top. The more you can donate, the harder and faster we’ll climb.
The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice know that the families of children with life-limiting conditions have a mountain to climb every single day. So help us to help them make it to the top.
Since being established in 1999, The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice provides respite care and so much more, to children and young adults living with life-limiting conditions, as well as to their families.
ABC Managing Director, Steve Burgess said: “I feel very privileged to be involved in raising much needed funding and highlighting the amazing work Donna Louise does”.
“Donna Louise adds light at the darkest hour to our children, young people and families in need. They truly care about making a difference.”
– Steve Burgess, ABC MD
The Donna Louise team recognise that caring for a child or young adult with complex needs is an uphill struggle for any family, so they offer all-important respite breaks, allowing families to recharge their batteries while their loved ones are happy and safe.
Indeed, those young people who stay at The Donna Louise’s custom-built facility say it’s like “being on holiday”.
Visit our Just Giving Page and sponsor us for as much as you can. Tell our friends! Help us to help The Donna Louise. Let’s climb that mountain and break that record together!
Steve Burgess, Managing Director of Congleton based company ABC Managed Solutions, took part in the Tower to Tower challenge – a 450-nautical mile journey from Tower Bridge in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, navigating 2 of the world’s most historic rivers and crossing the busiest shipping channel in the world. The challenge has so far raised over £232,000 for the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.
The challenge saw the teams waiting out high winds and perilous conditions. The team’s boats can handle up to a terrifying Force Four – day four saw Force Seven storms hit around Le Havre!
Shortly after completing the challenge Steve commented, “It’s difficult to put in to words the emotions and efforts of the last 6 days. We have battled harsh elements and extreme physical challenges to reach the Eiffel Tower.” Speaking about the challenges faced by the team he said, “I developed blisters from around 36 hours into the challenge and without the support of our physio and medical teams, we would all have struggled to maintain the intensity required to complete the row.I feel very privileged to have been involved in raising much needed funding and highlighting the amazing support the hospice provides.”
The crew took six days to complete the journey, rowing 2 hours and resting 2 hours, 24 hours a day (weather permitting!). Training has been taking place for several months as the rowers put their endurance, strength and cardiovascular capabilities to the test. Rowing with and against the currents of the River Thames and the Seine, the rowers battled blisters, tiredness, fatigue and the usual team dynamics when under stress.
ABC works hard in supporting the local community and charities and is proud to be associated with The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice, Steve has raised over £12,000 in sponsorship so far.
ABC Managed Solutions is proud to announce The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice as one of our chosen sponsorship charities this year.
The Donna Louise charity provides respite and life care for children and young adults who are living with life-limiting conditions. Since being established in 1999, the charity has helped thousands of families, providing emotional support and creating wonderful opportunities for disadvantaged individuals.
“I feel very privileged to be involved in raising much-needed funding and highlighting the amazing work Donna Louise does,” said ABC Managing Director, Steve Burgess.
Steve added: “Donna Louise adds light at the darkest hour to our children, young people and families in need. They truly care about making a difference.”
Why Donna Louise
ABC plays an active role in backing charities in Staffordshire and across the wider UK. Back in 2015, Steve took part in the Tower to Tower challenge in support of Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.
The gruelling 450-nautical-mile journey spans from Tower Bridge in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Steve and the team raised in the region of £300K for Donna Louise.
Looking ahead to 2018, Steve described Donna Louise “as a unique charity” that provides “much more than just a helping hand for families dealing with tragic conditions”.
“Many charities can feel like a service but The Donna Louise is like a second family, providing support and creating opportunities for young people. The loving community gives children and young adults a sense of belonging and real understanding.”
Support the One in a Million campaign
Until recently, the charity had to discharge young adults once they reached the age of 19. Now it has made the momentous decision to continue supporting individuals for as long as they require.
One in a Million, its biggest fundraising appeal ever, will help this dream become a reality. Celebrities, businesses and local people are coming together to raise the money that means The Donna Louise can be there every step of the way for children, young people and their families.
In the words of Donna Louise
The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice recognises that caring for a child or young adult with complex needs can put a strain on the family, that’s why it provides respite breaks to allow families to recharge their batteries safe in the knowledge that their loved one is happy and safe at the retreat.
Children and young adults in the care of The Donna Louise praise the charity as like “being on holiday” and without them they “wouldn’t know where they’d be”.
