Dynamic Duo Raise Funds for Macmillan, BHF and William's Fund


Helen Padget-Smith and Esme Needham are project managers at our offices in The Maltings. In true SGS Packaging Europe style, they work hard to not only help the business togo from strength to strength, but also apply their passion and creativity into raising funds for worthy causes.

Along with many of our colleagues in Hull, the duo recently took part in the Hull 10K. Whilst Esme had run one before (last year’s edition of the event), Helen had previously run five 10K races, two half marathons and eleven 5K-6K races: “I started running two and a half years ago and really got into it. The result is forty races planned for between November 2018 and November 2020.”

In preparation for the Hull 10K, Helen and Esme visited the gym together twice a week to focus on cardio and strength training. Six weeks before the event, they also went on one run a week lasting between six and eight kilometres. If this doesn’t show commitment, we don’t know what does!

As well as raising money through race sponsorship, Helen and Esme decided to organise a bake sale in their office. This saw a huge range of sweet treats available to enjoy in exchange for a small donation to the fundraising pot. Our offices often play host to delicious stalls in support of charities, and this one in particular presented coconut moments, tiffin, After Eight flapjack, cheese straws, fairy cakes, strawberry sponge cake, Easter egg chocolate fudge cake, cookies and shortbread biscuits, all of which disappeared very quickly.



“Our colleagues loved the cakes and bakes,” says Helen. “Plus the Hull 10K was a lot of fun despite being really humid on the day. Esme got sprayed in the face with a hosepipe and nearly ran into a bench, so that was a pretty memorable moment. I love getting medals from these types of events and I’m building up quite a collection.”

Together they raised £120 for Macmillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation and William’s Fund, helping each charity to continue its crucial work and wide-ranging community engagement. As for the race, Esme finished in 58 minutes and 25 seconds and Helen in 59 minutes and 49 seconds, which shows that the pair kept up with one another right the way through.


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There’s all kinds of activity taking place across SGS Packaging Europe’s offices, so keep up to date by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.  

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