Staff at local firm David James have raised more than £12,000 for charity after taking on a walking challenge to remember a colleague who died suddenly last year.
Thirty employees from the estate agency and chartered surveying firm walked the challenging 23 miles of the Cotswold Way from Painswick to their office in Wotton-under-Edge on Saturday 7th September.
The trek was organised to remember their colleague, Ginny Thompson, who died suddenly after suffering a cardiac arrest in February 2023 at the age of 59. Ginny, who was a mother of two, had worked at the company as their accounts manager for 14 years.
Lorna Hook, an Associate at David James, said: “Ginny’s death came as a complete shock to everyone. She was a gentle character, hardworking and friendly.
“Ginny’s passing had a huge impact on us all. She had been with us for a long time and been a part of helping the business expand during that time.”
Wanting to do something to celebrate her life, her work colleagues at David James decided to organise the walk to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Lorna said: “Ginny’s sons, Harry and Jack, also joined us for the walk, giving us a great opportunity to get together and remember our friend and colleague.
“It has been lovely to see the support and donations we’ve received from clients and professional associates, as well as staff members’ friends and family.
“Many people will have been affected in similar ways, so this was our way to honour Ginny and support a charity that is at the forefront of research into heart disease.”
On average, 480 people in the UK die each day as a result of heart and circulatory diseases. The money raised by David James will help the BHF fund vital research into conditions like heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia, and the risk factors that can cause them.
Louise Gallard, Fundraising Manager for the BHF, said: “We are so grateful to everyone for taking part in this walk – it’s a wonderful way to remember Ginny. This event is a reminder of how heart and circulatory and diseases affect the lives of so many people. However, because of the support from David James we will be able to invest in groundbreaking research, that can get us a step closer to breakthroughs that could help save and improve lives and outsmart heart disease for good.”