Ipswich-based charity, The Soma Leo Foundation, has brought together local businesses to take part in a fun workplace challenge: The Soma Leo Row-a-Fun. The Challenge, which begins on 1 May 2019, will see teams of 10 people from businesses in Ipswich and Colchester take to rowing machines, for the whole of May, competing against each other to row the farthest and raise money for the charity. Nine teams are participating from AXA, Concertus, Hiscox, MHA Larking Gowen, Pound Gates and Prettys.
Funds raised will support The Soma Leo Foundation. Established in 2015, the charity provides education and support to disadvantaged communities in east Africa. This is achieved through the charity’s own school, The Soma Leo Academy, located in Nyiera, Kenya and by supporting other schools in nearby Osieko.
The event is organised by Pound Gates, whose directors, managers and staff are involved with the charity either as Trustees or by providing all of the administrative resources the charity requires. David Collins, Client Services Director at Pound Gates and Trustee for The Soma Leo Foundation said: “We’re really looking forward to the Challenge. We have 40 of our own staff involved, and another 50 people from local businesses. We hope to raise around £7,000 which will cover the costs of running the school for six months.”
The Row-a-Fun is supported by Suffolk’s Most Active County Partnership. Lynda Bradford, Head of Health Improvement for Suffolk Public Health commented: “We spend around 60% of our waking hours in the workplace so it’s sometimes difficult to build activity into daily life. It’s fantastic therefore to see local businesses creating opportunities for their staff to be active. We hope more businesses will develop initiatives like this. After all we know a fit and active workforce has a direct benefit on productivity.”
The Challenge can be followed on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (#beoarsome and #rowafun) and the league table will be updated at the beginning of each week. Find out more, along with details of how to support the teams at https://somaleo.org/row-a-fun.
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Notes to Editors:
The Soma Leo Foundation
The Soma Leo Foundation provides education and support to disadvantaged communities in east Africa. This is achieved through the charity’s own school, The Soma Leo Academy, located in Nyiera, Kenya and by supporting other schools in nearby Osieko.
The Academy seeks to achieve excellence by providing safe and clean facilities, high quality teaching with an appropriate teacher to pupil ratio, a varied and interesting curriculum, and nourishment for its 130 pupils. It currently costs £14 a month to provide education and nourishment for each child.
The balance of learning and nourishment helps children immeasurably, giving them the skills needed to support themselves in future years. It’s our mission to help the children who attend the school to be healthy, independent and resilient citizens who contribute to the future development of Kenya.
For more information please use the links below:
The Soma Leo Foundation website: https://somaleo.org
The Soma Leo Row-a-Fun page: https://somaleo.org/row-a-fun (includes links to each company’s fundraising page)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soma_leo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesomaleofoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesomaleofoundation/
Hashtags: #beoarsome #rowafun
Most Active County
In Suffolk, a unique partnership of local authorities, public sector bodies, the voluntary sector and private companies is working to turn the tide of inactivity.
Led by Public Health at Suffolk County Council it focuses on bringing added value to the good work that many organisations across the county do to engage people in physical activity.
Branded 'Most Active County', the partnership was established in February 2012 as Suffolk’s key legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since then it has helped drive an increase in physical activity levels whilst also securing significant economic benefits for the county.