Essex accountants Haslers took to the skies on Monday, August 22 to complete their leg of a national Olympic-style challenge to raise much-needed funds for Alzheimer’s sufferers.

The firm took part in the UK200Group’s “Not the Olympics 2012” charity campaign, in aid of Alzheimer’s Society. Participating member firms have been tasked with relaying an Olympic-style torch across the country in imaginative forms of transportation. And Haslers did not disappoint, relaying the torch by aeroplane and the more humble bicycle.

Having received the torch on Sunday, August 21, the participating accountants at Haslers had to unexpectedly bring their participation a day forward following a 6.30am email from the pilot, Andrew Montlake, who advised that there was oncoming bad weather and that the leg of the relay should be completed whilst the weather was still good.

With a bicycle route planned from the Haslers office to the Stapleford Abbots Aerodrome, participating accountants Lee Ervin and Laurence Gane had to make a mad dash to get their bikes to the office, from which they left at 1pm and made their way to the Aerodrome to meet the pilot.

With the accountants donning their special aviation outfits, which were kindly provided by Rhonda Elliott, the torch, accountants and pilot Andrew safely piled into the aeroplane and began the next part of the relay with a flight across Essex which included views of Chelmsford and the Haslers office.

After taking in the aerial views of Essex Lee and Laurence were back on their bikes for the final section of the relay, cycling to Chelmsford where they safely delivered the torch to the next participating firm, Edmund Carr.

The torch began its mammoth journey in Perth, Scotland in May and the challenge will finish at the Olympic Stadium in London in time for the Group’s annual conference in November.

Michael Watts, partner at Haslers, said: “I would like to thank everyone that volunteered to help and those that did help on the day, it was a great day.  It was also very kind of Andrew to donate the use of his plane. 

We are proud to be part of the event that is in aid of such a worthy cause. Alzheimer’s affects around 465,000 people in the UK, so we are grateful for all the support we have received so far from clients and colleagues.

For further information, please contact Haslers on 020 8418 3333.