Members of the training academies of Countrywide Surveying Services (CSS), SDL Surveying, e.surv, and Sava have completed a Bushtucker Trail Charity Challenge, raising almost £8,000 for LionHeart, the independent charity for RICS professionals.
The virtual challenge took place over the course of June and consisted of training academy teams of 25 competing against each other to see how far along ‘The Bushtucker Trail’ route they could move over the course of the month by walking, running, cycling and swimming.
The Trail ran from Melbourne to Cairns which takes in the entire East Coast of Australia and is approximately 4,800 kilometres – just shy of 3,000 miles.
Their progress was captured via the Strava app, plotted on the Bushtucker Trail charity map, with updates posted on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter under the hashtag #BushtuckerTrail.
The teams raised a combined £7,665 in sponsorship during the challenge.
Sarah Chalmers-Stevens, head of professional development at CSS, said: “This was another light-hearted challenge between firms championing talent and the role all firms play in ensuring that becoming a surveyor is an attractive career option for people from all walks of life and backgrounds.
“Seeing the posts from members of our team over the month, demonstrated what team spirit our team have and so we look forward to the next challenge – whatever that may be.”
LionHeart helps RICS members and their families in times of need.
From APC candidates, through their career and into retirement, to past members and their partners and dependants, LionHeart provides helps such as financial grants to confidential advice and counselling, through to legal and work-related support.
Adrian Drummond, assistant training and quality care manager at SDL Surveying, said: “We have had a blast over this last month taking part in the Bushtucker Trail challenge.
“The event has been a fantastic excuse to get out of the office, soak up the sunshine and feel some of that summer heat.
“Our Academy team has had great fun organising and taking part in joint bike rides and runs.
“It’s been brilliant to see competing firms coming together to support a fantastic charity and we’ve really enjoyed the engagement with like-minded surveyors from across the profession.”
Andrew McIvor, AssocRICS, Student CIPD, L&D senior technical partner at e.surv Chartered Surveyors, said: “Team e.surv had so much fun being part of the 2023 Bushtucker Trail Charity Challenge.
“We were like virtual adventurers, chasing each other up the East Coast of Australia, and who knew our team would rack up a challenge winning 6,363km of walking, running, cycling, rowing, and swimming in just one month.
“We want to give a huge shoutout to our amazing colleagues, friends, and sponsors who rallied behind us like true champions.”
Helen Orme, head of customer engagement at Sava, added: “We had so much fun taking part in The Bushtucker Trail. It encouraged everyone here at Sava to get out more and enjoy the great outdoors.
“Despite our best efforts we just couldn’t keep up with the other teams – well done everyone. We were delighted to be able to help raise so much to support the great work that Lionheart do.”
Finally, Carolyn McDonald, corporate fundraiser at LionHeart, concluded: “We absolutely loved the enthusiasm – and good-humoured sense of competition – of this challenge and seeing all the pictures and posts on LinkedIn.
“We know the firms enjoyed the team-building aspect of the challenge but what was really lovely was that they never lost sight of the aim, which was to raise as much money as possible to help us help their fellow surveyors.
“We’re grateful to all the individuals who took part and to all those who donated to support their efforts, as well as to the firms for coming up with the idea and driving it forward.
“There is already talk of planning a similar 2024 challenge which we’re very excited about, especially as this would fall in LionHeart’s 125th Anniversary year.”
