The Woodland Group has been a major sponsor of Panathlon since 2011 and that investment has been used in a variety of ways including the expansion of our sporting programmes in Essex and beyond and the employment of a part-time member of staff who was formerly an award-winning Panathlete!
Woodland Group staff have taken part in many innovative fundraising initiatives in support of Panathlon and have also volunteered as leaders at Panathlon’s competitions.
In 2023 alone, Woodland Group employees took part in fundraising feats including the Nuclear Races Tough Mudder, London Triathlon and RideLondon, and are due to take part once again in the Royal Parks Half Marathon, which they also completed in previous years, raising thousands of pounds in the process.
Prior to that, the Chelmsford-based company have been the main sponsor of the Panathlon Ball, a charity golf day at Stoke Park Golf Club, completing the London to Paris Cycle Ride (see video at the bottom of the page) and the Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in 24 hours, all to fundraise for us.
For the last two years, Woodland Group has partnered with Essex County Cricket Club to raise further funds for us. In summer 2022, they promised to donate £1 to Panathlon for every run scored by Essex Eagles in home matches in the Vitality Blast T20 competition – and repeated the initiative in the summer of 2023, raising £1250!
In recent years, Woodland Group has also presented a series of annual awards to pupils and schools across Essex who have stood out for their achievements in the sporting arena, often against the backdrop of significant adversity and barriers.
2022: Joseph Parlow (see main pic), Peter Vaughan, Scarlett Rickwood and several pupils from Doucecroft School
2021: Riley Richards and Connor Fenn
2020: Dexter Hanmer and Isabelle Evans
2019: Chloe Wingrove and James Barrett
2018: Lenny Rush (who has since gone on to become an award-winning TV actor)
2017: Honey Lock
It’s been a fantastic long-term partnership which has helped our charity grow and benefited thousands of children with disabilities and special educational needs in Essex and beyond.
Visit the Woodland Group website and see their CSR charity partnerships here.
