Bateman Superheroes Raise £10,000 For Prostate Cancer

Two Bateman Groundworks superheroes raised £10,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by taking part in a 1700-mile international car rally.

Dressed as video game heroes Super Mario and his brother, Luigi, Commercial Director Jason Ramsey and Production Manager Lewis Nicholas joined the 24-car rally to the south of France with a fund-raising target of £5000.

Driving a 20-year-old BMW Z3 they bought on eBay, they travelled to St Tropez and back to help raise a total of more than £100,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.

Jason and Lewis customised the BMW to enter the budget car category of the seventh annual rally organised by Bateman Groundworks’ supplier Keyline.

Each car was expected to raise £1000 on the five-day rally, which had a theme of Superheroes and Villains.

Jason and Lewis raised more than £6000 thanks to the generosity of sponsors and Bateman Groundworks contributed the rest.

The cavalcade set off from the Northampton headquarters of Keyline, a supplier of civils and drainage solutions and heavy building materials, and arrived in St Tropez two days later, via Soissons and Grenoble.

Ex-international footballer and ambassador of Prostate Cancer UK, Luther Blissett, also took part.

“When Keyline asked us to take part we jumped at the chance to help raise money for charity,” Jason said.

Every year 42,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Money raised by the rally will help fund vital research into tests, treatments and its causes.

“The theme is Superheroes and Villains but we thought we’d be different as the video game hero Super Mario and Luigi, which seemed fitting for our generation.”

04 – SEPTEMBER 2016 www.batemangroundworks.co.uk Their car was customised with the help of Rackheath graphics company Creative Image Management. Norwich-based Cozens UK Electrical and Lighting has sponsored the Bateman Groundworks team for £1000.

The company plans to make the rally an annual event.

MD Richard Bateman said: “It is important for our staff to raise money for charity as well as supporting our suppliers. Raising money for charity has always been a big part of our year and we support several charities and local organisations and sports teams.

“As a male-dominated staff, Prostate Cancer UK felt especially relevant.”

Kieran Griffin, Keyline Managing Director, said: “Since launching the partnership, we have raised more than £1.2 million for the charity, which contributes to the fantastic work undertaken to help fight this terrible disease.”