2000 people per year lose their lives from aortic dissection in the UK.

The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust is the UK and Ireland charity uniting patients, families and the medical community in a shared goal of improving diagnosis, increasing survival and reducing disability due to aortic dissection.

This is the 3rd fundraising effort for Customer First Digital, and each of our 5 team members will be taking on separate challenges throughout the month of September.

Back in 2021, Dave carried out the majority of a gruelling 200-mile challenge solo. In 2023, the team counted every step, as they contributed by walking their dogs, biking to work, and using the stepper exercise machine in the office. This year, we’re raising the bar even higher.

You may ask, why Derby and, more importantly, why are we supporting The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust? The reason is simple Derby was the hometown of Ben Latham, a former colleague and close friend of Dave, who tragically lost his life to an undiagnosed aortic dissection. We are raising money in his memory, supporting vital research and raising awareness of this condition.

To further support this incredible cause, we’re taking on personal challenges that will push us to our limits. Here’s what we’ve committed to:

Dave is planning a dawn-to-dusk bike ride on Friday, the 27th. He’ll be heading north for this epic journey. Despite a busy year, driving Customer First Digital to new heights, Dave is squeezing in some much-needed training in the coming weeks.

Suzanne is embarking on a Swim Challenge, aiming to swim 5 miles this September. As a busy mum of two with a packed work schedule, she loves swimming but finds it hard to fit into her daily routine—making this challenge all the more impressive!

Lewis is training to complete an Olympic Triathlon, which includes a 1.5k swim, 40k bike ride, and a 10k run. He’s already completed a practice 40K bike ride in 1 hour 20 minutes and plans to complete a 10k run to estimate his time. His training will continue with combining two of these activities in one day, eventually building up to the full triathlon.

Cerie is aiming to walk 100 miles throughout September. Although she’s a regular at the gym and enjoys weekend walks, this will be a significant challenge given her 9-5 office job, which keeps her seated most of the week.

Joe is taking on a mammoth challenge: burning 10,000 calories in 2 days! He’ll be combining a range of activities including running, playing football, tennis, and rugby to hit his goal.

Each of us is committed to completing our challenges to support The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust, and we’d love your help. Every donation will motivate us to push harder and will go directly towards supporting awareness, research, and families affected by this serious condition. Thank you for your generosity!