Group Directors to cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia to raise funds for new charity partners

Graeme Carling and his wife and business partner, Leanne will cycle over 400km in 7 days from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia which will become the first charity event as part of the company’s year-long charity partnership with Type-1 Diabetes research charity, JDRF.

The challenge, which starts on 19^th October, will take Graeme and Leanne along the Mekong River, past ancient temples and pedaling deep into jungle backwaters.

Having acquired McGill earlier this year, Graeme Carling has set about making changes to the day-to-day operations of the business, but also wanted to make sure the right culture was created. The newly agreed charity partnership with JDRF forms part of the wider Community Commitment at McGill
which encourages all employees to dedicate time, effort and where they can money, to support local groups, causes and initiatives.

Graeme and Leanne Carling have a personal link to JDRF since their daughter, Blaire was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the beginning of the year. The couple became aware of the work of the organisation after watching BBC One’s Lifeline Appeal at the end of July.

Leanne Carling commented: “After the initial shock and upset following our daughter’s diagnosis, I started reading up on Diabetes, having had very little knowledge beforehand. Blaire and I watched the BBC Lifeline Appeal together and we contacted JDRF shortly after to ask how we could help.”

Since the company was rescued in March, new McGill bosses have revamped the companies Community Commitment including becoming Living Wage
accredited, signing up to offer work placements on Angus Council’s Skills for Work programme, sponsoring local sports teams and supporting the community work of their customers.

McGill CEO, Graeme Carling commented: “Even in the early days after acquiring the company, the employees were organising charity events and doing fundraising for various groups. I wanted to support the culture here and encourage even more goodwill. Appointing a Charity Partner allows our team to focus their efforts on one organisation and increase our impact. We have decided that our team will vote for a different charity partner every year.”

On their epic cycle Graeme commented: “Both Leanne and I regularly challenge ourselves, we hiked West Highland Way and climbed Ben Nevis for charity recently and I climbed both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest within the last two years. Out of us both, Leanne is definitely the cyclist, but we are both looking forward to the challenge and experience and hope we raise plenty of funds for JDRF.”

Carol Kennedy, Regional Fundraiser at JDRF in Scotland said: “I am delighted Graeme and Leanne are taking on this incredible challenge for JDRF by
cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia. JDRF is lucky to have such passionate and inspirational supporters whose fundraising will help accelerate life-changing research to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.”

McGill have launched a Charity section on their website and details of how to donate can be found online.

For further information contact Fraser Kirk on fraser.kirk@mcgill.co.uk Tel: 01382 833833 or 07531 090912