Midlands Co-op Staff Shape Up For Charity Challenge

2 September 08

Midlands Co-op staff from Desborough took part in a special in-store fitness session this week (Tuesday 2 September) to get them in tip-top shape for a company wide sponsored walk on Sunday 7 September.

In the run up to the walk, customers might be surprised to see staff from Midlands Co-op’s Desborough store on Braybrooke Road weight lifting bottles of water, walking circuits of the store or even trying step-ups on boxes. But these are all things that the staff may be doing after being put through their paces by local fitness instructor, Ashlee Cove from the LA Fitness gym in Kettering. It’s all part of a last minute push to get them ready to join around 300 managers and staff from across the whole of the Midlands Co-op trading area who are taking part in a seven-mile walk at Shipley Country Park.

The aim is to smash the £11,000 charity fundraising record set at last year’s event. All funds will go to the British Heart Foundation which is the organisation’s staff elected charity. In order to participate, each walker has pledged to raise money via sponsorship from friends and customers.

Dorinda Chapman, Manager of the Midlands Co-op store in Desborough said: “Staff are determined to put their best feet forward in order to raise as much money for the charity this year. With only a few days left to get in shape, we thought it would be a good idea to get some professional advice on maximising the time so that our walkers really can do their best.”

Ashlee Cove, Fitness Instructor from LA Fitness in Kettering, explained: “I was delighted to be asked to help the Midlands Co-op team in their fundraising efforts for the British Heart Foundation. And, while our in-store training session was a bit of fun, it really does demonstrate that there are plenty of little changes that people can make in everyday life which will help them to stay active and healthy, in addition to visiting their local gym.”

For everyone who would like to donate during Midlands Co-op’s ‘walk for retail’, the seven-mile walk will take place on Sunday 7 September from 10.00am at Shipley Country Park in Slack Lane, Heanor, Derbyshire.

Donations can also be made at Midlands Co-op retail stores, details of which can be found on www.midlandsco-op.com, and follow the locations link.

ENDS

For more information or photo opportunity please contact:

Dawn Walker/ Joy Welch / Laure Doucet

Midlands Co-op on 01543 414140