STAFF from Leek United took the long, scenic route into work this week in a bid to help battle the UK’s single biggest killer disease*.

Branch Manager Richard Czapski and his team set out from the Society’s St Edward Street branch in Leek at the crack of dawn on Tuesday 12th June for a ‘Rudyard Ramble’.

Along with Society Chief Executive Kevin Wilson, they walked from the town centre to picturesque Rudyard Lake, made a lap of the lake…then headed back to Leek, to clock on for a full day’s work.

And the £326.49 proceeds from their 10-mile trek will now be donated to the British Heart Foundation – Leek United’s nominated charity throughout 2018 – and its fight against coronary heart disease.

Richard and colleagues took around three hours to complete their walk, starting out at 5.30am, and working up an appetite for a pre-opening branch breakfast.

Then, throughout their working day, they served tea, coffee and cake to customers – in exchange for donations – as well as raffling off a ‘Healthy Heart Hamper’ of healthy goodies.

“We thought our ‘Rudyard Ramble’ would be a good, healthy way to raise as much as we can for the Society’s chosen charity,” said Richard. “We’d like to give a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who took part in and contributed to our event.”

Winner of the Healthy Heart Hamper was Leek United customer Mr Shaun Porter, of Leek.

*The British Heart Foundation estimates that seven million people in the UK are currently living with cardiovascular disease.

Over the last 50 years, the charity’s work has helped to fund thousands of cutting-edge research projects that fight heart disease and make a positive difference to people’s lives.