Story
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">In January, I started walking to get fit and, after 3 months of hard toil (and many miles), I’ve lost an impressive 2 stone in weight. Why did I decide to lose weight in the first place? Well, it was as a direct result of losing our dear friend, and hugely valued member of the team, Pete Rubery. I was determined to do something, to mark his passing. A challenge, something to raise funds…….but, the question arose, for what charity? Pete had worked in the Furniture Industry all of his adult life and, as if being guided by him directly, I was coincidentally asked to represent the Furniture Industry Trust (FIT) and compete in this year’s National 3 peaks challenge. The challenge is to complete the National 3 Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in, as near as possible, 24 hours, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN">42 kilometers (26 miles) of ascent and descent</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">! - on Saturday 2<sup>nd</sup> July 2011.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">What better way to carry on the work Pete loved, and stood for, than to support and raise awareness for the Furniture Industry, via the Trust? </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">The Trust is an independent charity, helping the lives of those who are working (or have worked), in the Furnishing Industry, and who are now facing financial hardship, or a personal crisis. They provide grants for desperately needed one-off items, as well as weekly grants for individuals, couples and their families, who are suffering ongoing hardship - such as requirements for medical equipment, holidays and support for school fee’s, uniforms and much more.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">The money we hope to raise, will transform lives for people, and their families, in the Furnishing Industry. There is no obligation. But, if you want to help me raise as much as possible, please donate as little, or as much, as you can afford. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>