STAFF from Kensey Foods in Launceston have raised over £20,000 for local charities by taking part in a charity challenge event.

Cornwall Air Ambulance, the Dash of Silver charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Charles Causley Society are all benefitting from the fundraising. Three teams from Kensey Foods participated in the triathlon-style Samworth Brothers charity challenge event, organised by Kensey Foods’ parent company, Samworth Brothers.

The gruelling day-long event, which included a mountain walk, long mountain bike ride and canoe race, takes place every two years and has raised more than £1.9-million for charity over the last decade. As well as the participating Kensey teams, staff from all across Kensey Foods also helped with fundraising.

The challenge efforts raised £15,246 for Dash of Silver, a charity founded by Dan Silver, who works at Kensey Foods. Dan’s vision has been to set up a male cancer support group in Plymouth and create further awareness of male cancer, inspired by his own battle with cancer.

In addition, £2,251 was raised for Cornwall Air Ambulance from the charity challenge and also a cyclathon at Tesco Launceston, a raffle and collection boxes.

A further £2,000 was raised for the Charles Causley Society and £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Two of the Kensey teams did so well at the event, they won extra cash awards for their chosen charities.

The Kensey Foods ‘Lattice Lakers’ team — Jack Atkinson, John Barnes, Marc Smerdon and Matt Hammond — won one of the event’s super tough categories and received an extra £1,000 charity award.

The Kensey Foods ‘Kernow Kings’ team — Jonathan Cowell, Dan Zackey, Darren Cornish and Matt Worsfold — won a similar £1,000 award to add to their charity total after being named one of the top fundraising teams. The team raised £13,646 for the Dash of Silver charity.

Jonathan Cowell, Kensey Foods’ finance director, said: “All the Kensey teams enjoyed training, fundraising and competing in both weekends, and it was made even more special by winning a further £2,000 to give towards two charities, which are very close to our hearts in Cornwall.”