Staff at Wolseley have raised over £22,000 for a variety of national and local charities in a coast-to-coast charity relay race.

Throughout May and June volunteers from the UK’s largest specialist plumbing, heating and drainage merchant took it in turn to pass a baton between each of its 135 southern branches. 

Finishing on June 26, 2019, the 650-mile challenge began at Wolseley’s Penzance branch on the Cornish coast; the baton even made its way to branches in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of White along the way. 

Using a variety of creative transport methods, including cycling, jogging and classic cars, the baton arrived on June 2, 2019 at Wolseley’s Broadstairs branch in Kent. David Myers, regional managing director at Wolseley, said: “We’ve seen some great creative ideas from staff when completing their journeys. We’ve had everything from trains and bicycles to boats, planes and scooters - one employee even travelled by horse!”

At each branch, staff also built a mascot from Wolseley materials and documented each branch milestone by adding a picture of their creation to a Charity Challenge scrapbook. The book, which was carried between branches as the baton, also documented each step of the journey with photographs and messages of support.

Mr Myers also added: “We would like to thank everyone for taking part in this charity relay challenge and doing so much to raise money for our chosen charities, whilst having a lot of fun along the way.”

All funds raised will be distributed between each of the branches’ chosen charities, including Cornwall Air Ambulance, Great Ormond Street Hospital and a number of smaller local charities.