Southern helps local charity to power into third place

Southern, Thameslink and Virgin trains East Coast came to the rescue of Hove based learning difficulties charity, Grace Eyre’s Power lifting team recently, helping them to travel to the Special Olympics in Newcastle.

The team, who had been training for many months in preparation of the event, suddenly realised that they would not be able to afford the full cost of the journey. In despair the charity, who have worked with Southern in the past, approached Southern for help with the additional cost of the journey.

Southern and Thameslink’s Community Investment and CSR Manager, Andy Harrowell, took up the baton and worked Virgin East Coast to help ensure they could complete the journey. Both worked with their teams at the various stations along the route, including Brighton, St Pancras and Kings Cross to support the team both up to the games and on their return.

Sarah Howse, Vice Chair of the Special Olympics Brighton & Hove, said: “Keith and Terry, Power Lifters from Special Olympics Brighton & Hove really enjoyed their weekend in Newcastle and were rewarded with an overall third place and a certificate of attendance for their efforts. We are all really thankful to Southern and Thameslink when they rescued our participation. They arranged for us to travel to the Powerlifting competition in Newcastle. Without them, we would not have been able to go! Thank you again.”

Andy Harrowell said: “We’re all about delivering a better experience together and when Grace Eyre got in contact I was happy to look at what we could do as well as contact Matt to see if Virgin could help too. It would have been a terrible shame if we could not have supported this great team. I’m really pleased that everything came together and delighted that they achieved third place.”