12 SMT GB employees successfully completed a team-building day with a difference when they took on what has been described as the toughest endurance challenge in Scotland.
The ‘SMT Yompers’ team raised almost £8,000 for the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity after participating in the Cateran Yomp, which challenges teams of soldiers, veterans and civilians to walk 22, 36 or 54 miles across the rugged terrain of the Perthshire countryside in less than 24 hours.
SMT GB is the exclusive dealer of Volvo Construction Equipment and K-Tec Earthmover products in Britain. The team represented a cross-section of the company’s community, ranging in age from late 20s to early 60s, with job roles consisting of engineering, marketing, sales and support office staff, spread across almost all of SMT GB’s nine customer support centres.
Seven of the team made it to Gold (54 miles), with another reaching Silver (36) and three to Bronze (22).
Leading the team was Duxford-based health and safety manager Anthony McCann (55), who served with the Royal Artillery for almost 30 years, and whose three sons are still currently serving. He said, “The Cateran Yomp was challenging, physically and mentally. It was a great event and everyone in our team thoroughly enjoyed the experience in so many ways. So many of our team members will have different memories. The organisation by ABF was exceptional and to turn out food and support around the course was phenomenal.”
Starting at 6am on Saturday and ending in the early hours of Sunday morning, the team enjoyed ‘favourable’ weather on the 54-mile route around the foothills of the Cairngorms, with the distraction of live music, magically lit forests and fireworks.
