Aviva staff aim to hit the heights for us

Pictured: Danielle and Richard on the balcony at Aviva in Wellington Row, York

When cancer touched the lives of Danielle Gordon and Richard Romaniak, they decided to fight back with a nationwide fundraising challenge.

Danielle and Richard, who work in the York office of insurance giant Aviva, persuaded colleagues throughout the country to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks walk for us as well as another local good cause and a national charity.

The pair wanted to give something back after Richard’s wife, Becky, and Danielle’s mum and dad, Karyn and Keith, were all treated for cancer.

City charity York Against Cancer helped Karyn and Becky with support from minibus transport to seaside respite breaks, and Danielle wanted to acknowledge our efforts in funding research and raising awareness of prostate cancer after Keith was diagnosed with the disease.

Danielle and Richard also wanted to raise money for Kyra Women’s Project, the York-based mutual support charity where Becky is volunteering as she recovers from her treatment.

And they wanted to support the work of the national cancer charity Cancer Research UK.

Aviva allows staff to run three volunteer days a year, which usually involve teams at one workplace, but Danielle and Richard thought it would be even better for company team-building if they organised a volunteer day involving people from all over the country.

Staff from York, Bristol, Norwich and London were all inspired to join in, and no fewer than 29 workers will be converging on York on September 6 before travelling to the Dales for their gruelling 24-mile hill-walking challenge.

“It’s been a brilliant response!” said Danielle. “We think this will be a fantastic way to bring people together and they are all causes that are very close to our hearts.”

“Obviously everyone thought it would great to put themselves through a year of pain and suffering to get ready for this event!” joked Richard.

They said some people were more prepared than others but they were all looking forward to the big day, aiming to complete the challenge inside 12 hours.

They’ve already reached their fundraising target of £1,500, which will be boosted by £300 tax relief and match-funding of £1,500 from Aviva, so each charity will get at least £1,100.

However, you can boost their fundraising even further by donating at their online page, https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/teamaviva