10 March 2014

Costain is again backing CARE International UK, whose humanitarian relief work includes constructing shelter in the aftermath of emergencies like Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the ongoing war in Syria.

This year’s event takes place on Saturday 28th June at the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. This is the third year that Costain has officially supported the CARE Construction Challenge, an event which attracts teams from across the construction industry to complete an adrenaline filled marathon which includes a 17km hike, a 16km cycle challenge and a 9km canoe challenge.

“It’s a great personal challenge but it’s built around teamwork. It’s quite tough but a lot of fun and it’s for a great cause,” said James Norris, a Senior Quantity Surveyor on the M6 Junction 16-19 project, who completed the Challenge in 2013.

CARE is currently working in the Philippines to support survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, supplying people with lifesaving emergency assistance and helping families rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Haiyan affected 14.1 million people and left around 4.1 million people displaced.

The organisation also supports many of the 2.5 million Syrian refugees by constructing community centres in Azraq refugee camp in Jordan and acting as a focal point for information. CARE also helps refugees living in urban areas to survive the bitterly cold winter conditions by providing materials to keep the most vulnerable refugees warm.

Syria and Philippines are just two examples of the work CARE International undertakes. More broadly, the organisation is active in around 84 countries worldwide and helps 83 million people a year to find a route out of poverty.

“Our Costain Cares strategy ensures that Costain is thinking about how we can help others to rebuild their lives.  We work with many charities and CARE International is one way we can make lives better by addressing global needs. Construction is a key theme in CARE’s work – whether it’s providing emergency shelter for victims of natural disasters, rebuilding disaster resistant buildings, training communities in improved construction techniques or focussing on water and sanitation,” said Mark Collier, Graduate Civil Engineer, who competed in the Challenge last year. 

Last year Costain entered two teams, raising £2,675 of the £68,000 total raised in 2013. Teams are made up of between two and four people and the organisers have also included some mystery challenges which promise to test your mental agility, communication skills and team work.

For anyone who wants to take part but is worried they’ll miss the football world cup matches that night, the organisers have even got that covered too.

“For this event we’ve arranged to show both World Cup football matches in the evening so people won’t miss out. The CARE Construction Challenge is the ultimate team building event for those who work in, with or supply the construction and property industries. If you’re interested in taking part then please get in touch,” said Heather Li, CARE’s Fundraising Executive.

For further information, please visit:

www.carechallenge.org.uk/constructionchallenge

Or contact the CARE Challenge team on 0207 091 6111/ [email protected].

 

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