Petrofac management conquers Bennachie for local charity

Petrofac management have raised more than £6,500 for an Aberdeen charity after completing their latest fundraising challenge today – to carry Aberdonian wheelchair athlete Kenny Herriot up and down Bennachie.

Petrofac Offshore Projects and Operations has sponsored Kenny, an elite international wheelchair athlete and motivational speaker, for nearly 13 years.  After being injured in a motorbike accident in 2000, Kenny has travelled across the world to train, compete and inspire people, sporting Petrofac branding.

Despite the rain, a 20-strong group including Petrofac’s Europe leadership successfully scaled the 1,700 foot peak, working together to carry Kenny safely to the summit in a specially-modified wheelchair.

All funds raised will go to Petrofac’s chosen ‘Charity of the Year’, Friends of the Special Nursery, which is the charity of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital’s neo-natal unit for premature and sick babies.  The Bennachie challenge is one of a range of fundraising activities being undertaken by Petrofac teams and departments in year one of a two year partnership and they have already secured more than half of their initial target of £33,000 – the cost of a specialist ‘Giraffe’ incubator for the unit.  

Julie Wilson, Treasurer, Friends of the Special Nursery said: “We are so impressed with the amount of proactive fundraising from staff teams at Petrofac and delighted that they have already raised enough funds to purchase much-needed items from our wish-list: a height adjustable cot and a drinking water unit.  With these donations, we can continue to support families through extremely difficult times and give newborns the best possible start in life.”

Kenny Herriot said: “I have had an amazing relationship with Petrofac since 2001; they have helped me achieve a very high standard in racing and motivational speaking. I was delighted to take part in this exciting and challenging day and put my life in the hands of the leadership for a great cause.”

Walter Thain, Senior Vice President Europe, Petrofac said:  “This was a great team-building exercise in a challenging environment, but it was about much more than that; it was about supporting a vital local charity. Any donation, large or small, can make a huge difference to a newborn baby’s life so we would like to thank everyone who has supported us and who gave so much encouragement to complete the challenge.”