Page 55 - Institute Quaterly 5 Final

Blackstone Consultancy’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations, Chris
Moses, said the experience was ‘challenging’ but for a worthy cause. He
explained that the team annually complete the ‘Blackstone Consultancy
Challenge’ raising both awareness and funds for causes that are especially
important to them.

He said: “Previously we have cycled 54 miles from South London to Brighton
in aid of Blesma, a charity supporting injured veterans and trekked the
Sahara Desert raising funds for Children’s Air Ambulance. This year it was
for Pink Ribbon Foundation, a trust which provides financial support for
UK breast cancer charities. The charities we choose reflect us and our core
values; causes for veterans due to our background as former soldiers,
children’s charities because we are all fathers or uncles and women’s
charities, such as Pink Foundation, because we are husbands and sons.

“These are charities and causes we feel incredibly strongly about. During
these tough and unprecedented times, we feel that it is important to
give something back. Not only is it part of us being a socially responsible
company, but it feels good to do something good as well.”

Discussing how the team found the trek, Chris added: “With our
backgrounds we are used to physical activity but most of us are now of a
certain age and we don’t do those activities quite so often anymore. But,
we did it! The weather was beautiful, we couldn’t have wished for it to be
better. It was hard on the feet, the calves, hips, ankles and we got blisters.
Yet, we got to the end and arrived in Newcastle and the sun was shining -
we really enjoyed it.

“Previously we have raised around £25,000 through our charity challenges
and we are already close to that total. This year, we will keep the campaign
running and do some more publicity around it, going into October to
emphasise National Breast Cancer Awareness. We hope to outstrip the
£25K and, hopefully, it will do some good.”

Jonathan Prince, Chair of Trustees, Pink Ribbon Foundation said: “The Pink
Ribbon Foundation is delighted to be chosen as Blackstone Consultancy’s
‘Charity of the Year’. With so many women getting breast cancer and in
these challenging times for them to get treatment, we can guarantee that
the money Blackstone raises will make a difference to women with and
recovering from this terrible disease.”

55