MOUNTAIN OF A CHALLENGE FOR JARVIS LADS.

Press release, 17 February 2010

For many of us, lunchtime revolves around a snack at the desk, and perhaps a stroll to the kettle to make a cup of tea. However, for eight men from Jarvis – a local construction company – 1pm means that it’s time to get on the walking boots for a brisk 5k march around the streets of Harpenden.

For the past few years, the fittest employees from Jarvis have given up their free time to train for an annual sponsored walk. Last year, they scaled the heights of Scafell Pike in Cumbria – at 978m, it’s England’s highest mountain. They are currently in training for climbing Helvellyn in the Lake District, which they plan to tackle later in the summer.

Team leader Bryan Burgess commented: “Climbing Scafell Pike was a real test of fitness – and it’s a bit more hilly than Harpenden! As we went up the mountain, it got hotter and hotter and hotter. Still, that was better than Mount Snowdon, the year before, when all it did was pour with rain.”

This week, thanks to the team’s fundraising endeavours, Jarvis presented two local homeless charities – Noah Enterprise and Open Door St Albans – with a cheque each for £650. Jim O’Connor from Noah Enterprise said he was “delighted” with the donation, adding that “it will help us to provide emergency winter shelter in Luton”.

Margaret Lewis from Open Door St Albans, which Jarvis is currently refurbishing, said: “The money will help to keep our night shelter going and upgrade our accommodation. Thank you, Jarvis!”.

Pictures and contact information:

If you would like to take your own photographs of the team – eg walking through Harpenden in

their hard hats and high vis jackets – please get in contact.