Vertically challenged – Barbican Steppers race to the top for Shelter
Published: 26 February 2010
by JOSH LOEB
RUNNERS from the Barbican Centre’s marketing team scaled the heights of the tallest building in the City yesterday (Thursday) in aid of charity Shelter.
The team, known as the Barbican Steppers, took part in the Vertical Rush Challenge, a knee-cracking sprint up the 42 floors and 920 steps of 600ft-high Tower 42 in Old Broad Street. When they reached the summit, they peered down on their workplace in Silk Street.
The Steppers trained for the run by practising on the stairs of one of the buildings in the Barbican complex. Out of the 10 team members, marketing manager Greg Fearon was the quickest to reaching the top.
His colleague, marketing assistant Nathalie Mogg – who organised the Steppers’ participation in the event – said: “I don’t think I can describe the burning feeling in my calves.”
This is the second year Shelter, which supports homeless people, has run the fundraising challenge. The Barbican team became involved because they were concerned about the shortage of affordable housing in London.
So far, they have raised more than £1,230 for the charity through sponsorship.
The team were: Nathalie Mogg, Alastair Ramsay, Chris Wensley, Jessica Tomkins, Greg Fearon, Sam Franklin, Hetty Wooding, Richard Taylor, Kate Ballard and Emma Barron.