A thank you message from Jonathan Stephenson

Wow! what can I say other than you all smashed it and a massive thank you!

Last Friday it was an early morning start (5am) for the second Public Sector Challenge (PSC), in Horton in Ribblesdale, with the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge. Over 600 people participated in this year’s event from across the sector and from our commercial partner organisations.

We couldn’t of had better weather, especially for Yorkshire, though it might not have felt like that while climbing and getting to the top of our first peak, Pen-Y-Ghent.

The creation of the PSC was following the loss of 3 of my colleagues from pancreatic cancer in 2022 and wanting to do something to help others by pursuing a cure for cancer in their memory.

Unfortunately, we have all been touched by Cancer in some way or another either directly or indirectly through a family member, friend, or colleagues experience.

We all found Fridays challenge extremely hard, but I can’t even think to imagine the extreme pain both emotionally and physically someone who is battling cancer would go through. So, this has always been my motivation to get through a PSC as anyone battling cancer would swap in a heartbeat the opportunity to do a challenge like we did on Friday than go through their battle with cancer. Thank you for battling the mountains to achieve our individual and overall goals for the day and the PSC.

As I write this message, I can see that across all our fundraising platforms we have raised an amazing £204,000 plus over £36,000 in Gift Aid getting us all so very close to the overall target of £1/4 Million for Cancer Research UK from PSC events. Well done this is such an outstanding achievement and will go a long way to help find a cure for Cancer, something we all want to see.

I have had some great feedback from lots of our participants, volunteers, and partners even though I know some were disappointed on the day they didn’t do all 3 peaks. Please don’t be too disappointed as to climb 1 of the peaks is an amazing achievement and there is always the opportunity to go back and do the others at another point in time or a future PSC. What I have heard constantly from all is the amazing support and appreciation for each other on the challenge trail through motivational words, holding out a hand, waiting for others, walking with now new friends who needed that support to get them through and the constant applause  at the finish line for all that crossed it. Local people and businesses have said they have never seen such a supportive group on the challenge trail like this before. You should be very proud of not just your achievements but the special support for others during the day.

The PSC has only been possible due to the support of you as participants and our fantastic Challenge Partners who have supported the event to ensure the experience was the best it could be for you to complete and celebrate, at the end, the PSC. A massive thank you goes out to all our partners listed below and you as participants and our very incredible and dedicated volunteers.

A special thank you must go out to Jenny Clack from Solace and Luca Difato from Cratus Group. I don’t like to single people out but both Jenny and Luca have been instrumental in the success of this year’s challenge and without them this wouldn’t of been possible. Thank you so much for your support, hard work and working with me!

So, on to the next challenges. In 2025 we will have 2. On Saturday 18 January the plan is to undertake the first PSC – London Bridges Walk (20&15k walk of the Thames and its bridges). This is a more inclusive event for those who prefer to stay on the ground, and we are also opening it up to friends and family members. We are looking to open registration by the end of September, and we would like to get to 2000 people taking part. There is no individual fundraising with this event but there will be the opportunity to donate to charity when registering to help increase the overall fundraising for the PSC.

Next year’s PSC September event is planned for Friday 5 September 2025 and registration will open before the end of this year. Look out for the Black Friday launch offer for previous participants of the challenge.

Ahead of this you can let us know your organisation’s intentions to participate in next year’s event by emailing the admin@publicsectorchallenge.co.uk and letting us know, the team name/organisation and estimated numbers you think will be participating. We will then contact you prior to the main launch to secure your teams places.

Well all that is left to say is a massive well done, a huge thank you and see you in 2025 for more challenges and opportunities to come together as the Public Sector to do amazing things. You smashed it!