Rob Worboys Challenge Back for a Fifth Year

Cushman & Wakefield is hoping to make a big difference to the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the launch of its fifth annual Rob Worboys Challenge.

This year’s virtual event will take place on 10th of June, as part of the agency’s first ever National Make An Impact Day, with entrants walking, running and cycling in locations across the UK.

Money raised will go to four charities MCR Pathways, ThinkForward, resurgo and IntoUniversity, to help young people who have fallen behind or been disadvantaged as a result of COVID. To find out more about the event or make a donation click here 

Participants can opt to complete the Full Worboys which will involve 3.5 hours cycling in the morning and 3.5 hours walking or running in the afternoon or the Half Worboy which involves 3.5 hours walking/running in the afternoon.

The event was previously held on the Isle of Arran with participants cycling, running and climbing to various points around the island. Last year saw the event take place online for the first time in order to overcome COVID-19 restrictions.

Thanks to overwhelming support from Cushman & Wakefield employees and clients the 2020 event raised more than £31,000 for the NHS Charities Together appeal taking the total raised to date to more than £100,000. It was established in honour of popular Edinburgh agent, Rob Worboys, who died suddenly at the age of just 27 in 2016.

Stuart Dorward, Head of Scotland for Cushman & Wakefield said: “The Rob Worboys Challenge is important to all of us at Cushman & Wakefield and helps us to remember our former colleague, Rob, so we are delighted that we are running the 2021 event on a virtual basis for the second year in a row.

“One of our main goals last year was to promote the Rob Worboys Challenge to our clients and colleagues based outside Scotland. With over 400 taking part in 2020 we have high hopes for another strong turnout this year and for raising significant sums for educationally focused charities.”

In addition to the Rob Worboys Challenge, Cushman & Wakefield is encouraging employees to take a day out of regular activities as part of National Make An Impact Day to support its charity partnerships or carry out their own volunteering initiatives.

Candice Matthews, Chief Operating Officer UK Cushman & Wakefield, said: “Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds do worse at school compared to their better-off peers, are less likely to access university and struggle to find and keep jobs but this not inevitable. The charities selected by Cushman & Wakefield are all working to narrow the gap in education or employment for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are committed to establishing and improving their impact to demonstrate the difference they’re making. And they all show that, with the right support, every young person can succeed, regardless of background, in school, in work, in life.”

Rob Worboys, who worked in the Edinburgh office of Cushman & Wakefield, was a keen sportsman and played American Football for East Kilbride Pirates, taking part in trials for the GB team.