In support of the British Heart Foundation’s National Walking Month campaign, 10 employees and eight dogs from raw dog food manufacturer, Poppy’s Picnic, took on a 10 mile walk in the local Wiltshire countryside to raise funds for the cardiovascular health charity.
Employees of the Melksham-based company took part in an extended lunch time walk, which suitably included a picnic break, in support of the British Heart Foundation which seeks to make life-changing differences for people with heart and circulatory diseases. The foundation funds over £100 million of research each year, enabling those with existing conditions to seek successful treatments to lead longer and happier lives.
Poppy’s Picnic is a proud business in Wiltshire with strong links to the countryside as all their produce comes from local farms or is grown in the fields surrounding the headquarters. The raw dog food company emphasises team bonding (including the doggies!) which made the 10 mile walk a perfect fit, providing an opportunity to get out into the Wiltshire countryside which plays such a vital role in the business.
Poppy’s Picnic Founder, Dylan Watkins says: “Many of us have had family and friends affected by heart disease. Knowing our donation will contribute to life-saving research around the disease responsible for a quarter of deaths in the UK really spurred us on. 10 miles is nothing when you think about the journey that so many families go through for a loved one. Everyone was keen to get involved, even our 30 weeks pregnant Head of VIP Services joined us part of the way. We think she has a valid excuse for cheating!”.
He continues: “With the warmer months approaching, we'd encourage everyone to get out there. Even if you are a couch potato, you have to start somewhere and even those of us who are mostly desk bound all day were surprised at what we achieved. Plus, there’s now a great number of services such as Borrow My Doggy if you are in need of a companion. We will be encouraging all of our customers to take part and share their walks on social media.”
The award-winning dog food manufacturer regularly supports charitable causes including Dogs For Good who supports people with a range of needs including physical disabilities, autism and dementia, and Pawprints to Freedom Rescue, a not-for-profit rescue for dogs that are in need of a loving home.