This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

Anthony Holt of Albany Trustees with Michael Haenel, Julian Winser (Schroders’ managing director), John Bell, Brian Bougourd and Nick Bennett. (0478514)

SIX men from the finance industry are competing in one of the world’s most gruelling physical challenges in the name of charity.

Schroders’ Julian Winser, John Bell, Nick Bennett, Brian Bougourd, and Michael Haenel and ex-colleague Anthony Holt are attempting to run a 200km ultra-marathon through the Amazon rainforest.

If that wasn’t hard enough, they must carry all their food, clothes, hammocks and medical equipment for seven days in the Brazilian jungle.

‘Julian, our CEO, has done another ultra-marathon and was keen to do something with the Schroders team,’ said Mr Bennett.

‘He first brought up the idea 18 months ago, although we’ve been training intensively for the past 12 months.

‘It’s definitely something that will take all of us far beyond the limits of our comfort zone.’

The money raised will be split equally between Headway Guernsey and the UK-based Rainbow Trust, which helps children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses and their families.

‘The support can range from sitting with them and reading stories to give their families a break to taking them out for day trips,’ said Mr Bennett.

‘We all wanted to do something for children as most of us have some of our own and so it was close to our hearts.

‘By choosing a UK-based charity, we can get the full weight of Schroders PLC behind it and therefore maximise donations.’

‘All the money we make goes directly to the charities. The rest of the costs have been met by us and Schroders. Bennett Gould & Partners have also been very generous,’ said Mr Bell.

‘So far we’ve raised £104,000, which is fantastic considering our original target was £80,000. Hopefully, we can get even more.’

The jungle marathon takes place in the Fioresta National de Tapajos, in Para, Brazil, between Tuesday 7 and Thursday 16 October.

Not only will the runners have to battle the extreme heat, humidity and claustrophobic surroundings of the rainforest, they will also have to contend with all manner of poisonous snakes and spiders.

Split into stages over seven days, the longest section is 87km, the record time for which is more than 13 hours of continuous running.

So tough is the ultramarathon that the drop out rate is 40%.

‘We’ve been doing cliff runs and running to work, covering about 100km a week on average,’ said Mr Bougourd.

‘Sometimes fitting the training around our work schedules has been tricky, especially as most of us travel a lot.

‘Our families have all been brilliant as well by putting up with seeing us only as we dash out the door for more training, so a big thanks to them. We really appreciate their support.’

‘None of us has been so fit for the past 20 years – it’s an inspiration to everybody that at 40 you can turn your life around and get in shape,’ said Mr Haenel.

‘It’s even rubbed off on the rest of the office. More people are exercising, going swimming and cycling to work.

‘There used to be cakes on offer in the mornings that disappeared straight away, but not any more.

We’ve noticed that tea and coffee consumption has also gone down and that water has gone up.’

To donate money towards the Schroders’ Jungle Marathon team, go to www.justgiving.com/schroders.

Article posted on 5th September, 2008 - 2.30pm