Skanska throws down the gauntlet in support of YMCA school initiative 

Local businesses are invited to put their fittest and their brightest staff members up against a team from Skanska in a charity challenge this May.

Held in the Lifestyle Fitness gym at Peterborough Regional College on Saturday 12 May, the charity event will raise money to provide a new mental wellbeing mobile app, Feel Stress Free, for the city’s secondary school pupils.

The Skanska 900 Challenge charity event is the brainchild of Skanska, in support of its corporate charity partner, YMCA Trinity Group. Skanska is challenging Peterborough businesses in an exciting activity filled day, where both brawn and brains will be put to the test.

The fundraising event will include cycling, running, memory tests, darts, sudoku and jigsaw, all earning ‘miles’ toward each team’s target of 900 miles.

Rod Allerton, Director of Development at YMCA Trinity Group commented: “We’re immensely grateful to Skanska for initiating this fundraising event and to Peterborough Regional College for sponsoring it and making their gym available for the day. Mental health is in a huge crisis amongst our young people – we know that three young people in every classroom suffer from a diagnosed mental health condition”.

Rod continued: “We’re committed to supporting our young people, and the Feel Stress Free app detects, prevents and treats many low level mental health conditions. We urge local businesses to take on the challenge and help us fundraise for this worthy cause”.

John Birkenhead, contract manager at Skanska explains: “The 900 challenge is our way of supporting a potentially life-changing project for young people in Peterborough. Mental health is such an important topic that we need to address. The more local businesses that join us in this fun and challenging event, the better supported the city’s young people will be!”

To sign up your team (max 6 participants) and take Skanska on in the challenge, please visit: www.ymcatrinitygroup.org.uk/get-involved/events/skanska-900-challenge/

The event runs from 10am-4pm on Saturday 12 May. It costs £100 per team, and YMCA Trinity Group is also inviting participants to fundraise for the charity.