KPMG and Unilever staff take part in fundraising event

Employees from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Key Travel, KPMG and Unilever have taken part in a fundraising event for Oxfam.

The Emergency Challenge event, which was attended by nearly 70 employees from UK organisations, tested teams of four with a series of mental, physical and strategic challenges around five key emergency areas: water, food, sanitation, shelter and security.

Running, cycling, navigation and puzzle solving were all involved as the employees competed through the day and into the night.

The teams raised a total of more than £35,000, which will go towards Oxfam’s work in real-life emergency situations.

Tom Holloway, spokesperson at Oxfam, said: “We’re thrilled with the success of the event and we’ve already had some amazing feedback from the teams that took part.

“They really embraced the challenges and the competition was intense. It’s the ultimate away day for employers, offering fantastic team building and personal development opportunities.

“We’re aiming for 50 teams next year and we’d love for more local organisations to get involved. The money raised will make a huge difference in saving lives in emergencies worldwide, such as Oxfam’s work around the current crisis in Syria.”

Andy Speller, managing director of Key Travel and a team leader at the event, added: “It was a terrific day and, despite some weary legs, it was a huge success.

“It was great to bring together staff from different parts of the organisation to develop teamwork and leadership skills.”