Accountants take on fundraising challenges for Ukraine

Staff and partners at PKF Francis Clark have been taking on a variety of challenges to raise funds to help those affected by the war in Ukraine.

A group of hardy volunteers from our Plymouth office raised £5,000 in sponsorship and donations for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine humanitarian appeal by spending a night sleeping rough at Plymouth Albion Rugby Club.

The team after an uncomfortable night sleeping out to raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine appeal: from left, Kyle Mitchell, Hannah Baker, Archie Willmot, Joe Caruana, Will Rogers, Chris Gawman, Martin Atkins, Duncan Leslie and Justin Gliddon

Kyle Mitchell, a member of the office’s charity committee and one of those who took part, said: “We had a cold and uncomfortable night with just sleeping bags and cardboard boxes for shelter, but we were safe and obviously it was nothing compared to what people in Ukraine have been going through. It was worth it to show our solidarity with those affected by the war and support some of the charities responding to the humanitarian crisis.”

“It was great to see so many people get involved to help provide much-needed support to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Fitness fans at our Truro office embarked on a collective quest to run, walk or cycle the 1,750 miles from the city to Kyiv, raising £2,000 for ShelterBox’s Ukraine crisis appeal. Among them were Luke Bennett and Richard Wadman, who turned heads by running laps of the city centre wearing a suit and a Pink Panther outfit respectively, and Rosanna Weatherly, who walked the 12-mile St Michael’s Way coast-to-coast route from Lelant to Marazion.

Luke Bennett, left, and Richard Wadman ran through Truro in fancy dress to raise funds for ShelterBox’s Ukraine appeal

Issie Avis, who helped organise the RunWalkCycle2and4Ukraine challenge, said: “It was great to see so many people get involved to help provide much-needed support to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Between us we covered a total of 2,857 miles, smashing our original target.”

Colleagues in Truro are also continuing to raise funds by holding a series of clothes swaps.

In Exeter, staff raised £955 for the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal by holding a bake sale and wearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag to show their support, as well as collecting donations at their postponed Christmas party.

The firm has also set up a working party to explore ways of helping refugees fleeing the conflict, including registering as a business sponsor under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.