Staff at Dorset-based SMD are preparing themselves for a series of exhausting charity efforts this summer.
They are training hard for a 100k-cycle ride and also a 26-mile trek along the county’s rugged Jurassic Coast, all in aid of Julia’s House, the Dorset children’s hospice which helps children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.
SMD, which designs, manufactures and installs metal decking systems and associated concrete works, has chosen Julia’s House as its charity for the year.
Ben Pratten, managing director of Tower Park, Poole-headquartered SMD, said: “We encourage our staff to be community-minded and they have generously given up their time to help charities.
“We have previously raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research and Macmillan Cancer Support and this year wanted to focus on a worthwhile cause purely local to our Dorset base.
“And judging by the number of colleagues likely to take part in events this year we certainly have a very active, generous and healthy workforce.
“Every penny counts – every £300 will pay for 10 hours care for a poorly child at Julia’s House, and respite for an exhausted mum or dad.”
SMD staff are participating in the Hospice to Hospice Cycle on Sunday June 11 from Julia’s House in Corfe Mullen to the charity’s newly-refurbished Wiltshire hospice at Devizes.
The challenging 100km course (or a 200km version for the really energetic) takes riders through the beautiful Dorset and Wiltshire countryside, with a refuelling stop at iconic Wilton House.
On Saturday July 1 SMD workers will be getting their walking boots on for the 26-mile Jurassic Coast Trek from Lulworth Cove to Studland along Dorset’s stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site coastline.
SMD site operative Steve Baggott is taking part in the even more challenging Cateran Yomp, a 54-mile team march in 24 hours on June 10/11 across the rugged terrain of the Scottish wilderness in aid of ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity.
And Tedros Aberham, also an SMD site operative, is supporting the ERDA-UK charity which builds schools for children in Africa.
Employing more than 100 people, SMD has worked on some of the country’s most iconic buildings including The Shard and The Olympic Village in London and Manchester’s Etihad Stadium.
SMD is one of only a handful of British companies that manufactures its own steel decking, which it also installs.
