CARE Construction Challenge Post-Event Report
Last weekend enthusiastic teams from the Construction Industry took part in the CARE Construction Challenge supported by New Civil Engineer, Construction News and Union Square. The event raised an impressive £50,000 for CARE International’s poverty-fighting work.
Teams were raring to go at the start of the challenge on Saturday morning - even at the unsociable hour of 6.00am, and despite the unwelcome arrival of the midges. Following a series of bike fittings, kit checks and safety & communications briefings, the teams were off. Half began with the hiking rotation – a hike up Pen –Y- Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales (886m), whilst the other half started with the biking/rafting rotation – a 27 km bike ride and a raft build on the stunning Pontiscill Reservoir.
All teams finished the first half of their challenges in good times and after a quick pit stop to refuel and re-apply sun cream, teams switched rotations to complete the challenge.
The hike rotation seemed to go smoothly for most teams, but despite participants’ construction expertise, the raft build proved a little tricky for some; rafts collapsed, rafts sank and more than a few participants took a dip.
Come afternoon, Wilmott Dixon’s Team Market was the first to cross the finish line (pictured left). The remainder followed in a steady stream, all eager to check out their total times.
It was then back to Glamorgan University for a well-earned drink and some respite. Later, the final times were revealed at the celebratory meal and prize giving.
Team Market from Wilmott Dixon, scooped the awards for the fastest team (with an impressive time of 5 hours and 33 minutes) and the highest fundraising for an individual team. Team leader Peter Gleave later said: ‘What a fantastic day and event. Having had the pleasure of taking part in previous CARE International Construction Challenges, the event in Wales didn't disappoint… We are very proud to be associated with what CARE represents with their foresight and compassion shown to those less fortunate than ourselves…’
All teams raised vital funds for CARE, and CARE would like to thank everyone for their efforts. Special thanks go to the teams from Costain, Willmott Dixon and Union Square all of whom raised very large amounts of money for CARE. Special thanks were also given to New Civil Engineer and Union Square for their fantastic support of the event.
It was then over to Lizzie Babister, CARE’s Shelter and Reconstruction Senior Specialist, who put teams’ fundraising into perspective by speaking about CARE’s work in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck in January. Following an immediate focus on emergency shelter and sanitation, CARE is currently focusing on transitional shelter, as well as dealing with the longer-term issues of land ownership, disaster preparedness and permanent reconstruction. (Pictured above right - Emilienne is 7 months pregnant and about to move into transitional shelter provided by CARE.)
A disco and party followed, during which teams seemed to call upon untapped resources of energy in order to dance into the early hours – and a further special mention goes to the teams from Union Square, who were officially the last teams standing.
The event was a huge success and CARE would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made it possible – participants, supporters and volunteers. Without support like this CARE would not be able to carry out its vital work.
Thank you to everyone.
Above left - Bob Jean, a beneficiary of CARE's Shelter programme in Haiti, attends a training session about assembling and maintaining transitional shelters.
Above right - Volunteers help beneficiaries of CARE's shelter programme build transitional shelter.
Final times
| Company and Call Sign | Raft build | Bike | Hike | Total |
| Willmott Dixon Team 2 - Market | 00:38:00 |
01:49:00 | 03:06:00 | 05:33:00 |
| Barratt David Wilson Homes - Ghana | 00:33:00 |
02:02:00 |
03:06:00 |
05:41:00 |
| AKS Ward - Peru | 00:44:00 |
01:47:00 |
03:46:00 |
06:17:00 |
| Costain Team 3 - Sudan | 00:48:00 |
02:12:00 |
03:27:00 |
06:27:00 |
| Costain Team 1 - Food | 00:41:00 |
02:20:00 |
03:33:00 |
06:34:00 |
| Costain Team 2 -Jordan | 00:48:00 |
02:17:00 |
03:33:00 |
06:38:00 |
| Willmott Dixon Team 3- Education | 00:44:00 |
02:10:00 |
03:54:00 | 06:48:00 |
| Bam Nuttall Team 2 - Conflict | 00:46:00 |
02:12:00 | 04:04:00 |
07:02:00 |
| Union Square Team 2 - Egypt | 00:36:00 |
02:21:00 |
04:06:00 |
07:03:00 |
| Bam Nuttall Team 1 - Urban | 00:56:00 |
02:14:00 |
04:10:00 |
07:20:00 |
| Union Square Team 1 - Congo |
00:47:00 |
02:37:00 |
03:57:00 |
07:21:00 |
| McArdle Group - India | 00:34:00 |
02:51:00 |
04:05:00 |
07:30:00 |
| New Civil Engineer - Water | 00:53:00 |
02:07:00 |
04:36:00 |
07:36:00 |
| Balfour Beatty -Zambia | 00:44:00 |
02:14:00 |
04:40:00 |
07:38:00 |
| Willmott Dixon Team 1 - Farming | 00:35:00 |
02:28:00 |
04:38:00 |
07:41:00 |
| Deli'cious Catering - Kenya | 01:00:00 |
02:52:00 |
05:05:00 |
08:54:00 |