Fifteen in London will be cheering on its largest-ever marathon fundraising team when a dozen volunteers enter the ING New York Marathon this November.
Team Fifteen, comprising staff from both the flagship restaurant and from Jamie Oliver’s business, will be undergoing a tough training programme over the coming months in order to prepare for the event on November 1.
The daring group, comprising both first timers and seasoned runners, has a fundraising target of £50,000 which will go towards paying for our 2009/2010 apprenticeship scheme. Each year Fifteen takes on 18 young people, all needing a break in life, and turns them into professional chefs, giving them the chance to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
That training doesn’t come cheap with the apprenticeship programme costing in excess of £600,000 a year. The £50,000 the runners hope to raise will pay for our apprentices’ training allowances, subsistence and education fees.
All sorts of innovative fundraising activity is being undertaken in the run-up to the event which will be covered on our NY marathon Justgiving page.
Mike Trace, chairman of the Fifteen Foundation, the charity that runs the apprenticeship scheme in London, and who is one of the daring dozen taking part, says: “Fifteen is an inspiring place whether you work, train, volunteer or simply enjoy the great food on offer. It’s one of the main reasons why so many of us have got together this year to run in the world’s largest marathon event. We know that every donation we get will spur us on over the coming months as we prepare for this amazing event.”
So please sponsor Team Fifteen now!
