Top team sets sights on smashing new £5k target for Action Medical Research

The team of four Worcestershire businessmen planning to “Race The Sun” on Sunday 8 October have already smashed their original fund raising target.

Matt Nicol, owner of estate agents Nicol & Co, Adam Smith, director at Financial Advice Centre Ltd, Ben Wood, co-founder of Cab Studios and Piers Thompson, director at GJS – The House Surveyors, have formed “Team Unity” to take on the arduous triathlon-style event in the Lake District.

They originally set out to raise £4,000 for Action Medical Research which has been funding medical discoveries for over 70 years.

But now they are approaching £5,000 and are determined to beat their new target.

Action Medical Research’s successes have included research that led to the first oral polio vaccine in the UK, ultrasound technology development in pregnancy, rubella vaccine testing, and successful campaigns to reduce the risk of stillbirth.

Currently they are funding investigations into illnesses such as asthma, epilepsy, and leukaemia, to name just a few.

It is a cause particularly close to Matt Nicol’s heart as both his children were born prematurely, with Charlie, now 13, born at 36 weeks, and Maisie, now 11, at 34 weeks.

He said: “The research and discoveries by charities like Action Medical Research are literally lifesaving.

“As part of our preparation, we attended a safety briefing which included a presentation of some of the work that Action Medical Research has done in its 70 years.

“This just made us even more determined to succeed and raise as much money as possible.”

The epic day includes a 17.5 mile cycle, a 11 mile hike, including a climb to the summit of Lattrig, and a two mile kayak race.

Lucy Holloway, corporate fund raiser at Action Medical Research, said: “We are so looking forward to our upcoming Race The Sun Keswick On Road event which has so far raised £180,000.

“We could not do this without the support of our incredible supporters such as Team Unity who make it possible to enable us to continue funding vital research to help sick and disabled babies, children and young people.”You can donate via the team’s Just Giving page  at https://www.justgiving.com/team/unityfitness