Graff-iti Worth Reading: First Dates on the MayFair Power & Tower Race

It has been an eventful time at the DM Thomas Foundation for Young People where I am volunteering on my sabbatical from the NHS.

As part of my internship gaining experience in Event fundraising, I was tasked in helping organising the annual Mayfair Power and Tower Race held on the 26th May. We had nearly 100 competitors taking part. The event consisted of running 5km through Hyde Park, then entering the lobby of the iconic Hilton Hotel Park Lane before taking on the daunting challenge of ascending 28 flights of stairs to the Michelin-star Galvin at Windows Restaurant. Our intrepid Olympians were well rewarded with a medal and a lavish champagne breakfast to feast upon. This year’s winners were Mark Apsey who did it in a record 19:52 minutes and Louisa Lingley who completed the event in 21:40 minutes. All the money raised on this unique and exceptional challenge was donated to Galvin's Chance an into work programme for disadvantage young people in society.
http://galvinschance.co.uk/

My own claim to fame on that blistering hot Friday morning was I had the great fortune of having a selfie taken with Fred Sirieix the star of Channel 4 First Dates, and also the Co-founder of Galvin's Chance. He did a wonderful speech at the end of proceedings firstly, congratulating the runners and the event organisers plus talking about Galvin's Chance describing how the money raised by the participants will assist vulnerable young adults.

In summary the ninth running of this event was a tremendous success with a record number of contestants racing and a large amount of money donated to a worthy cause. If that wasn't satisfaction enough, my new best selfie pal Fred remarked he would put in a good word for me to appear on the next series of First Dates. I replied that I would only star if I was paired up with either Alesha Dixon or Beyoncé, preferably both. I maybe waiting a long for that phone call from the programme producers!