Around the World in 30 Days for Aerobility
An Early Careers cohort at NATS, local employer and the UK’s leading provider of air traffic management services, has raised £6,720 (including Gift Aid) for Aerobility, a charity that offers disabled people the opportunity to experience the magic of flight.
The graduates, industrial placement students and apprentices, a project team of 18 in total, decided to fundraise for NATS’ corporate charity by challenging colleagues to collectively travel the Earth’s circumference (24,091 miles) in the 30 days of the month of June. This was in celebration of Aerobility’s 30th anniversary.
This challenge was designed to inspire creativity and encourage people to participate in any form of exercise they enjoy, while helping the team to reach their fundraising goal of £5,000, which they exceeded.
Throughout the fundraiser in June, the project team held three Bike Days at NATS’ Head Office in Whiteley, to showcase the fundraiser, encourage participation and spread awareness about Aerobility. They, along with other fundraiser participants and Early Careers members, cycled and rowed on continuous shifts to help add additional miles to add to the overall distance total.
The team were also joined by Aerobility CEO, Mike Miller-Smith MBE, who talked to employees about the charity and the fantastic aviation-based opportunities Aerobility can offer to individuals with disabilities.
Other participants set up salsa dancing sessions, jumped in stilts, and even contributed some miles by litter picking, not only contributing to the challenge, but helping the environment too.
Mike Miller-Smith, CEO, Aerobility, said: “This year is our 30th year, and for over a third of that time, NATS and its employees have been incredible supporters, enabling much of what we do. I am delighted that the team beat not only their distance target, but their fundraising target too and want to thank everyone who took part for helping us to make a difference.”