Nisa colleagues raise £15,000 for charity in workplace challenge
A workplace challenge in Nisa has raised a whopping £15,000 for charity.
The Nisa Miles challenge launched in January to encourage staff to walk, run or cycle through the first month of the year to hit a target of 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. As a further incentive, Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity pledged to match miles with money and donate £1 per mile to Alzheimer’s Society.
So great was the enthusiasm for the initiative, it has been extended into a year-long challenge, with Making a Difference Locally also extending its support for the remainder of the year, supporting a different good cause each quarter.
During Quarter 1, colleagues achieved over 14,500 miles, which was rounded up by MADL to donate £15,000 to the Alzheimer’s Society. Local causes Lindsey Lodge Hospice and The Forge Project are also set to benefit from funds raised during Q2 and Q3 respectively, whilst the Q4 beneficiary will be voted for by Nisa colleagues.
The #NisaMiles hashtag has also gained traction on social media, as participating colleagues look to share their successes and encourage and support others in their efforts.
Steve Portess, Nisa Warehouse Systems Analyst introduced the challenge after initiating mileage challenges with his running club outside of work.
He said: “I’ve been running mileage challenges with Broughton Runners for a while, which had a really positive impact on participants as it enabled them to feel part of something that has a competitive edge without too much pressure.
“Seeing the impact it had on the community of Broughton, I thought it would be a good idea to run the challenge at Nisa as a way of encouraging everyone to be more active in January after the festive period – I never expected it to be as popular as it was!
“It’s amazing to see the positive effect it has had on the culture within Nisa, with more and more people becoming active and walking during their lunch breaks, walking to work or going for a walking weekend to make sure they hit their target. I’ve been told that it’s improved mental health, concentration, weight loss and a feeling of being physically healthier.”
Kate Carroll, Nisa’s Head of Charity, added: “We’re delighted that so many colleagues have got involved with Nisa Miles and have already raised a considerable amount for a fantastic cause with MADL’s support.
“We know the challenge to have had a profoundly positive effect on mental health for many participants and the healthy competition has generated greater camaraderie between colleagues.”
In the spirit of continuing to keep active whilst raising money for good causes, a number of Nisa colleagues will also be taking part in the Lindsey Lodge Glow Walk and the Humber Bridge Half Marathon in June, where colleagues will be fundraising for Lindsey Lodge Hospice and the Humber Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) appeal respectively.
