GroceryAid applauds wholesaler for raising 'impressive' amount

Charity GroceryAid has applauded Pilgrim Foodservice for raising an impressive £22,775 for supporting workers in the grocery industry.

This challenging event, dubbed the "Three Peaks Pilgrim-age", saw Pilgrim Foodservice’s strategy director, Jenni Holgate and head of procurement, Karen Hamlyn, undertook a 26-mile trek to conquer the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales.

Their journey began on Friday (9) morning as the pair embarked on their climb up Ben Nevis. Despite torrential rain and 60mph winds, they completed the ascent in 6 hours and 35 minutes. The following day, they tackled Scafell Pike in Cumbria before finishing their adventure with a 5.5-hour climb of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on Sunday (11).

Applauding their effort, Kieran Hemsworth, CEO, GroceryAid said, “The amount of money that Jenni and Karen from Pilgrim Foodservice have raised for GroceryAid on their Three Peaks Challenge is incredible. Although we continue to help more people year on year, we know more people could know about GroceryAid and the welfare services.

“We rely on support from the industry to enable us to provide free and confidential financial, emotional and practical support to colleagues in their time of need. The work that Pilgrim Foodservice has done to spread awareness of GroceryAid and Jenni and Karen’s amazing fundraising efforts drive us towards our goal of helping even more grocery colleagues.”

Reflecting on the challenge, Rachel Atkin, Pilgrim Foodservice’s head of people, praised the duo, “This has been an incredible journey of resilience, determination, and teamwork. The entire Pilgrim family followed the Pilgrim-age closely, and we are immensely proud of Jenni and Karen for their remarkable achievement and the huge amount of money they’ve raised for GroceryAid.”

Jenni shared her thoughts, “Although we’re both active, training in flat Lincolnshire for a mountainous challenge was tough. The weather on Ben Nevis was brutal, but knowing we were raising money for such a fantastic cause made every step worthwhile.”

Karen added, “This was more than just a physical challenge; it was an opportunity to give something back to a charity that supports our entire industry. The outpouring of support from our sponsors, friends, family, and colleagues has been overwhelming, and it’s incredible to see how much we’ve accomplished together.”

The funds raised will go directly to GroceryAid, supporting services such as a 24/7 helpline, financial grants and mental health counselling.