St John Ambulance

Gloucestershire

NEWS RELEASE
April 14, 2011

Legal team puts best foot forward for St John Cotswold Way Challenge

A team from a Gloucestershire law firm will be putting their best foot forward in a challenge to raise
funds for the county’s leading first aid charity.

The group of 15 that has signed up to take part in the St John Ambulance Cotswold Way Challenge
on June 18 includes eight members of staff from Winterbotham Smith Penley Solicitors based in
Stroud, Dursley and Nailsworth, their family and friends.

They will be tackling the six and 13-mile routes of the walk with their families – two of four routes
that competitors can choose from.

And because the group that has signed up is more than five people, everyone taking part will be
offered the chance to go on a first aid course for half price - £15 compared to the normal £30.

The routes include a two, six, 13 or 24-mile walk along the Cotswold Way from Cleeve Hill in
Cheltenham. Walkers have to pay a small fee to register for the event and agree to raise
sponsorship money.

David Knight, partner at Winterbotham Smith Penley, said: ‘St John Ambulance provides an
invaluable service in Gloucestershire. Our partners and staff are delighted to be involved in an
event that not only raises much needed funds but helps us get fit, hopefully in the sunshine!’

Chloe Moorhead, County Fundraising and Media Manager, said she hoped more local businesses
would decide to step out and support St John Ambulance on June 18.

‘Making sure that people have access to first aid when they need it and training as many people as
people in those life saving skills is our key priority. Events like the Cotswold Way Challenge help us
to raise the money we need in Gloucestershire to support those aims.

‘The Cotswold Way Challenge is a great event to take part in as a team and there are four different
routes to meet the abilities of all walkers from families to experienced hikers.

‘It’s much more fun to take part in a big group and there is the added incentive of a half price first
aid course to encourage people to sign up.

Registration fees are £10 for adults and £20 for families and there is no minimum or maximum
sponsorship limit.

Chloe added: ‘Every penny raised will be ploughed back into supporting the work we do in
Gloucestershire to encourage more people to learn the skills that can be the difference between a
life lost and life saved.

‘Nearly two thirds of people wouldn't know what to do in an emergency so there’s a definite need for
our work.’
 St John Ambulance
Gloucestershire

NEWS RELEASE
To register for the Cotswold Way Challenge event contact 01452 858220 or e-mail cotswoldway-
challenge@glos.sja.org.uk.

ENDS

Caption: From left to right at the back – Matthew Penley and Managing Partner Peter
Mardon; In front – Partner David Knight, Leah Lewis and Hannah Turk

To find out more about this story or to interview a spokesperson please contact Chloe
Moorhead, County Fundraising and Media Manager on 07854 891151 or
chloe.moorhead@glos.sja.org.uk

Notes to editors

• As the nation’s leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance believes that nobody should die because
they needed first aid and didn’t get it. Yet every year, up to 150,000* people die in situations where
first aid could have given them a chance to live. St John Ambulance teaches people first aid so that
they can be the difference. *Using death registration data from the Office of National Statistics, 2008
(for England and Wales), April 2010.
• In 2010 in Gloucestershire 693 SJA volunteers carried out 120,387 hours of first aid, training and
other work in the county
• St John Ambulance in Gloucestershire has training venues at Staverton, Coleford, Stroud,
Tewkesbury, and Bourton-on-the-Water. It also runs on-site courses for 10 people or more.
• For information about St John Ambulance please call 01452 858220 or visit
www.sja.org.uk/gloucestershire

Ashville Business T 01452 858220 A company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England no. 3866129
Park F 01452 855679 Registered office: St John’s Gate,
Cheltenham Road www.sja.org.uk Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4DA.
East Registered charity no. 1077265/1
A subsidiary of the Priory of England
Staverton and the Islands of the Order of St
Gloucestershire Training services John.
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