Marketform has won the first stage of the Lloyd’s Charity Challenge, which kicked off at the Old Library yesterday afternoon in front of more than 100 underwriters and brokers.
The insurer’s team completed the ‘Rush for Riches’ leg of the month long race in under 30 minutes leaving the other ten groups in their wake.
The ten teams were tasked with a 45 minute dash around the Square Mile to six destinations linked to the three partner charities – Samaritans, Farm Africa and Coram.
The triumphant Marketform team, who will be raising funds for Coram, was rewarded with the star prize – a table at one of London’s finest eateries, Nobu, which they will be able to use to boost their fundraising total. Each team member received a day pass to the Virgin Active Spa and Gym.
It was not such a good start for two teams, Hiscox and Lloyd’s Market Operations & North America as they failed to complete all aspects of the task.
Beazley, which is representing Samaritans, were not the first team back despite their use of taxis to get around the City!
Laying down the challenges and assessing the teams’ progress until the July 8 final is Lloyd’s Chairman Lord Levene, Marketform Chairman Holly Bellingham and Graham White, Deputy Chairman of Lloyd’s and Argenta Syndicate Management.
Lord Levene said: “I’m delighted to see so many teams from the Lloyd’s market taking part in the Charity Challenge. The Challenge will test their determination, creativity and organisation – and all the other skills they bring to work each day. I and my fellow judges are looking forward to seeing how they fare and how much money they can raise for our partner charities.”
Throughout the competition the teams will be required to devise inspiring and wallet-opening ideas to raise as much cash as they can for their allocated charity.
As well as Marketform, Coram will be represented by Liberty and Chaucer and broker Willis. FARM-Africa will also be able to call upon Canopius and broker Alsford Page & Gems to swell its coffers, while Samaritans will be pinning its hopes on Argenta and Lloyd’s Market Reserving & Capital, should Beazley’s stilettos not stand up to the task.
