Co-production and community engagement have played an integral role in Medequip’s operational strategy for some years now. When the company was looking to form a long-term partnership with a registered charity in support of this approach, a poll taken amongst the Medequip workforce indicated Alzheimer’s Society was the preferred choice.
Statistics suggest that one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia. Affiliation with Alzheimer’s Society not only matched the Medequip service demographic, but also reflected the personal associations of Medequip people, many of whom have family members and friends living with dementia.
Medequip has been raising money for the Society since pre-pandemic years, but this commitment stepped up to include more personal involvement in terms of time and commitment in 2022 when the company first began to support the Trek26 initiative. Trek26 is one of Alzheimer’s Society’s most popular events, with people taking part in a series of 13 and 26-mile treks in breath-taking locations across the UK to raise money for the charity. Money raised will go towards the charity’s vital services, which have been used over 6 million times in 2023. Funds will also go towards providing hope for the future by campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be and funding ground-breaking research.
Events like this require a significant amount of organisation and volunteer involvement. In 2023, Medequip people supported at each and every one of the eight events nationwide, providing assistance out on the route, at water stops, split points and at the finish line.
What began as a three-event initiative back in 2017 will see Trek26 cover ten events in 2024. In 2023, 7,355 trekkers raised the amazing sum of £4M plus, smashing original fundraising targets. For 2024, it is anticipated that 9,000 Trekkers will take part in ten locations around the UK, raising money to provide help and hope for the 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Medequip, for volunteering their time at Trek26 events this year,” stated Megan Wilson, Bespoke Events Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer’s Society. Their invaluable support helped 7355 trekkers cross the finish line and helped to raise crucial awareness of dementia, so we can work towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Every penny raised from events like Trek26 will really help us continue to be a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia.”
“We’re very proud to have gone bigger and better with Trek26 this year, using the Medequip-funded volunteering hours as well as our team’s own personal time, with eleven depots supporting eight events across the country,” said Michaela Harris, General Manager for Medequip South West and Suffolk. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with Alzheimer’s Society on event logistics and organisation, and we’re already looking forward to our involvement in the 10 Trek26 events planned for 2024.”
Could you take on the Trek26 challenge? Ten amazing locations around the UK are planned for 2024, including Stonehenge, London, North York Moors, the Lake District, South Devon Coast, Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Snowdonia (Eryri), Cotswolds, Suffolk Coast and the Peak District. If you can take a step in the right direction to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/Trek26 for more information – use the discount code ‘Medequip24’ to get 20% off your registration fee!
