Whisky Focus - Whyte & Mackay Cares - Virtual Globetrotting Challenge For Charity

Inspired by the heroic feats of Captain Tom Moore in the UK, employees of Glasgow based Whyte & Mackay have begun a virtual adventure which will see those taking part clock up enough miles to travel around the world. They have set themselves the challenge of walking, running, rowing or cycling a combined total of almost 29,000 miles over the next eight weeks to raise money for nominated charities.

The challenge – Whyte & Mackay Cares - will raise funds which will go towards charities nominated by the team at Whyte & Mackay, which includes the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).

A full lap of the earth is a little under 25,000 miles, but the course will be longer than that as the team clocks up their target distance between 1 July and 26 August with the aim of raising £50,000 for charity in the communities where their colleagues, partners and consumers live. The additional mileage will enable them to ‘visit’ some key cities along the route.

Employees based in Canada, USA, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, Germany, France, Spain and Russia are taking part alongside their UK-based colleagues. The challenge was initiated by the team themselves as part of their desire to stay connected and support other people during lockdown.

Nick Garland, Chief Commercial Officer at Whyte & Mackay, said: "Thanks goes to the organising team for leading the way and creating a fun challenge that everyone can get involved in. We’re living in unprecedented times – as has been widely recognised. That we stay connected and support our community and our friends further afield is really important, especially now. The role charities play in keeping people connected, and providing access to the support that is needed is vital. We are delighted to play our part by raising funds to support their work."

Holly Johnstone, Communication and Partnerships Manager, said: "I am really proud to be part of this team, which is demonstrating real commitment to our communities. We all wanted to contribute to the well-being of people around the world. Where we cannot meet to fundraise in person, we are doing so online instead."

Emma Docherty, HR Advisor at Whyte & Mackay, said: “Many of our colleagues have been unable to work in their offices during the pandemic and have had to adapt to working from home. This left some feeling isolated and we wanted to ensure our colleagues still felt connected to their teams and the wider business. To do this, we felt it was vital to put even more focus on employee wellbeing. This challenge not only encourages colleagues to exercise and take time away from their screens, it also has given a platform for colleagues across the world to connect, communicate and challenge each other.

"The Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) supports those who are struggling and has a great variety of resources available, including information and tips for those who have been impacted during the pandemic."

The team clocked up enough miles after day one to travel from Glasgow to London. Whyte & Mackay hosted a virtual pub quiz on 1 July after the journey from Glasgow had ‘arrived’ in London that evening.

You can keep track of the team’s progress over the next eight weeks by following them on Instagram @WhyteandMackayCares / #WhyteandMackayCares

If you want to support the Whyte & Mackay team and help them raise their £50,000 target you can make your donations here @WhyteandMackayCares
 

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