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Production director takes on Dolomites cycling challenge

A production director at a regional publisher has cycled more than 100km in the Dolomite mountains in one day to raise funds for charity.

John Ford, Archant’s director of production, carried out the cycle ride over six mountain passes with three friends, which saw them climb more than 10,000 feet.

John, pictured below left, raised £925 of a total of £3,321 for the British Institute for Brain Injured Children and his figure will be match-funded by the Archant Gold scheme.

The charity efforts of staff at the publisher have raised £14,551 for good causes in the last six months and will all be doubled under the initiative.

These included Archant Norfolk reporter David Freezer, who ran the Norwich half marathon to raise £390 for the Squirrels Residential Short Breaks Service in Aylsham where his brother, Harry, goes for up to 30 days respite care a year.

And Devon Life staff writer Anna Turns organised a 5km buggy walk and run followed by a cake sale and raffle in aid of her close friend’s seven-month-old baby, Freddy, who has liver cancer. It raised £4706.50 for CLIC Sargent and Archant Gold matched £3,000 of that total.

Other charity events by Archant staff included:

  • Don Williamson, circulation director from Archant Anglia, who ran six miles at the Norwich Anglia Sport Relief 2012 (Mile), raising £185.57.
  • Eastern Daily Press journalist David Blackmore took part in the annual 10km Grand East Anglian Run 2012, raising £300 for The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House, completing the course in 46 mins 13 secs, which put him in the top 250 finishers out of almost 1,700.
  • Stephanie Drury, promotions and brand manager from Archant Life in Worthing, performed a waltz at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Midsummer Ball after an intensive period of training and rehearsals, raising £255 for Hilton in the Community.
  • Jennie Cooper, editor of Cornwall Life, ran a half marathon at the Eden Project and raised £137 for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.