£1,000 TARGET SMASHED AS FINANCE TEAM SHINE IN MANCHESTER RUN
Hot weather did not stop K3 Capital Group’s finance team from obliterating their fund-raising target in the Great Manchester Run.
One of 2023’s warmest days so far did not stop K3 Capital Group’s finance team from obliterating their charity fund-raising target in the Great Manchester Run.
The team had aimed to raise £1,000 in donations and as the long-awaited British summer finally arrived on the third weekend in May, the runners’ efforts in energy-sapping conditions were greatly rewarded.
Just like many of Manchester’s iconic landmarks which lined the route, the £1,000 target was left way back in the distance as the tally increased to a hugely impressive £1,685 – to be split equally between the National Deaf Children’s Society and the Trussell Trust food banks network.
Most of the team tackled the 10k event – a difficult enough test in temperatures well over 20C under a cloudless sky – but Finance Manager Mike Kay, an experienced runner, contested the half marathon and flew around the course in an excellent time of 1hr 49mins 52sec.
Lewis Burke, KBS Corporate Financial Controller, said: “We are proud to have represented two great charities and are over the moon with the amount of money raised. We would like to thank everyone who supported us – it gave us added motivation to keep us running.”
Sam Makin added: “The main purpose of us doing the event was the charities, so it’s amazing that we’ve managed to surpass our target by so much and shows our work really paid off for two great causes.”
Understandably, there was still a competitive element among the team, and Lewis, who had admitted in the build-up that his goal had been “just to finish”, exceeded his own expectations – despite seeing colleague Jacob Rigby disappear over the horizon.
“Jacob was a bit of a pacemaker for me and Ojan (Rohani) to try and keep up with,” explained Lewis. “I managed to run with Jacob for the first 3k and he just carried on going, whereas I faded off in the heat. But I’m more than happy with finishing the 10k in under an hour – it’s the furthest I’ve ever run.”
Jacob added: “The weather didn’t impact me too much, there was a bit of a breeze as you were running along which helped me to cool down, so I found it easier than running on a treadmill in a gym.
“I was very happy with my finishing time as I beat my brother’s time by two minutes, which was my main goal.
“The funniest thing along the route was seeing other people’s costumes, such as a Rubik’s cube and a Scooby Doo, which were giving me a laugh the whole way round.”
The famous atmosphere of the Great Manchester Run, which was marking its 20th anniversary, also helped the team through the tougher moments.
“It makes such a difference on the day,” said Sam. “Everyone was in good spirits, enjoying the sun. People are all the way along the course, motivating you with all sorts of signs and banners and it really does feel like they give you a boost.”
And when it was all over, with the challenge completed, the time had come for ‘rehydration’.
“We all met up for celebratory drinks afterwards with our friends and family,” said Lewis. “It’s definitely given us all an urge to do another event.”
Just as important, though, was that superb total raised for charity.
“The amount we raised was amazing and everyone who donated was very generous,” said Jacob. “It really helped me in training and in the run itself to know I was doing it for a good cause and that people were supporting it.”
Donations can still be made towards the finance team’s fund-raising quest at the following link: