04/11/2009 - DevComTwo Take 2

Set in the breathtaking wild moorlands in some of Somerset and Devon’s luscious outdoor scenery, Chess Telecom’s Chief Executive, David Pollock, endured 100 miles of hiking, biking, kayaking and trekking the Dartmoor countryside, all in aid of The Prince’s Trust.

The Capgemini Wild UK Challenge was certainly not for the faint hearted. After 3 whole days of pure adrenaline pumping, one missing toenail, blisters galore and many pain killers later, both David Pollock and his team mates from DevComTwo (including Sales Director Warren Pryer,) made it back to Alderley Edge in one piece – ready for David’s Monday morning stand up – with their heads held high.

Having been pipped at the very last post, they finished in a very respectable 2nd place, out of 41 teams and Chess’ VERY competitive Chief Executive had to settle for second place. The defeat has only spurred David on however, writing on his blog ‘Great fun, what next???’

David later added, “It was without doubt the toughest physical weekend I have ever experienced. I had thought last year’s Costa Rica coast to coast challenge was hard, but this was something else! I'm proud of the team. We all had to show real grit and determination to carry on despite the pain. We should be proud of ourselves and let's not forget we've raised some money to help young people get their lives in order.”

Unfortunately, the same heroics cannot be said about The Chess Nuts, as David’s fears became a reality and they finished last. On a positive note though, their fundraising efforts have been superb and very rewarding. Over the past 6 months, the team has washed cars, offered local dog walking and gardening services, opened a tuck shop and most recently, danced the night away through organising an Abba fundraising night; all in aid of hitting their £4,000 target for The Prince’s Trust.

“The challenge was the hardest physical activity I’ve ever endured,” said team member Emma Bertouche. “Waking up at 5.45am each day was a definite eye opener, but the full cooked breakfast definitely was a welcomed encouragement. I was very close to tears on the second day, however as I crossed the finish line I knew it was all worth while. I’ve decided to keep up my training and wait to see what the challenge will be for next year!”

Of course, we can’t forget the pain, the hard work and the hours of training leading up to the weekend’s events – it was all in aid of such a worthy cause. As the fundraising totals are still being totted up, both DevComTwo and The Chess Nuts can be extremely proud of the contributions and achievements they have made no matter what position they finished in.

To read the highlights from the challenge, visit David’s blog www.chesstelecom.com/capgemini_wild_uk_challenge