The Surrey Three Peaks Challenge completed

The weather of 28-29 April was particularly wet and wild.  Yet 133 people took to the Surrey Hills that weekend to conquer the three highest peaks and raise significant funds for Guildford YMCA.  Faced with either a 14 mile option with intervening car rides or the 26 mile option (a marathon with hills!) each team chose whether to make the attempt on Saturday or Sunday.

As it turned out the rain and mud was appalling on both days – though one walker commented, “At least it was the right sort of mud!  It didn’t stick to your boots and make them heavier.”  

Swarna Kakarlapudi of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd reported, “We managed to reach all the three peaks on Saturday and definitely the challenge was more the weather than the hills.  It did give a great feeling of achievement particularly after the last peak in that weather.”  Michele Turitto of OTM Consulting Ltd said, “Yes, we did manage to complete the walk. It was a tough but memorable day.  Back at work on Monday most people in the office looked beyond tired but at the same time they had big smiles on their faces.”

The conditions were universally grim which makes the achievement all the more significant.  The ‘marathon’ option was not for the faint hearted or under prepared.  Peter Black of Punter Southall said, “We had 11 people who managed the full 26 miles and various others who did the 14. I think the mud underfoot was probably worse than the rain!”

All in all it was a remarkable effort, and the event is on target to raise £20,000.  This will be used to remodel the basement level of Guildford YMCA’s Bridge Street building, to provide improved facilities for both the 16-25 year olds for whom the Y is home, and for young people across the borough who connect with the YMCA’s youth projects.  The event was the brainchild of Richard Fox of The Learning Corporation and Guildford YMCA is also very grateful to the Surrey Chambers of Commerce for its support.  

Guildford YMCA salutes those who ‘picked up the gauntlet’- OTM Consulting, Barlow Robbins, Stevens & Bolton LLP, RHW Solicitors, Opus, Punter Southall, Guildford College, Charles Russell, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and its own youth workers from Plantation.  Each walker’s cheerfulness and fortitude in the face of adversity was most impressive.  For more information about the YMCA’s Capital Appeal visit www.guildfordymca.org.uk/capital_appeal.htm

Downton Abbey Stars Raise Cups for Charity

The stars of Downton Abbey took a well ‘urn-ed’ tea break from filming series three of the hit show, to launch Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Blooming Great Tea Party. The cast of servants, including new characters Cara Theobold and Matt Milne, enjoyed putting their feet up and having a cuppa in aid of charity.

Jim Carter who plays Butler Charles Carson said: “What could be more Downton Abbey than a good British tea party? We rather enjoyed having a break from serving the Earl and Countess of Grantham! We’re encouraging everyone to do the same, and pop the kettle on and have their own Blooming Great Tea Party for Marie Curie Cancer Care this summer. “

Marie Curie Cancer Care is asking people to hold a Blooming Great Tea Party this June and July to help raise funds for the charity. It can be as simple as a cuppa with colleagues, a vintage inspired tea party or even a larger party to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The money raised from Blooming Great Tea Parties will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to people with terminal cancer and other terminal illnesses in their own homes.

Call 08700 340 040 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty for more information and your free Blooming Great Tea Party fundraising pack.

To get help from the Marie Curie Nursing Service, talk to your GP, district nurse or discharge nurse. For more information, please visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk.

Don't forget: Tour Series road closures, Tuesday 12 June

Woking residents and visitors to the Borough are being reminded that roads into and around Woking Town Centre will be closed to motor vehicles on Tuesday 12 June 2012 from 10am until midnight.
 
The routes affected include:
•    A320 Guildford Road from the Sovereigns Pub to Lockfield Drive (including Victoria Road)
•    Goldsworth Road from A320 Victoria Way to Coign Church roundabout
•    Church Road West from Coign Church roundabout to A320 Victoria Way.
 
Diversion routes will be in place while the road closures are in operation. Lockfield Drive – entering the Town Centre from the west – will remain open at all times, giving all-day access to the Shoppers' Car Parks within Peacocks and Wolsey Place Shopping Centres. Motorists using the Monument Way diversion are advised to follow the diversions already in place.
 
Geoff McManus, Woking Borough Council's Tour Series Project Manager, said: "The roads need to be closed at 10am to allow for the course to be built by a specialist technical team. Once complete, some of the key routes around the Town Centre will be transformed into a high-speed professional circuit; ready for the Community Races starting at 12.30pm and the action-packed professional races starting at 5pm.  
 
Geoff continued: “Last year 12,000 people lined the streets to watch the penultimate leg of the Tour Series unfold. Again this year, large crowds are expected to gather to watch the nail-biting semi-finals of the Halfords Tour Series and the Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and check whether or not they will be affected by the road closures and also to leave a little extra time when travelling into and out of the Town Centre. Visitors to the town are urged to use trains or public transport, or in the spirit of the event, travel by bike.”
 
For more information about the Tour Series, visit www.cyclewoking.org.uk/tourseries
•     Celebrate Woking Community Races
•    How to enter the family-friendly Free Wheel
•    Changes to local bus routes
•    A map of the circuit
•    On-the-day race schedule
•    VIP ticket competition
•    Frequently Asked Question