Smurfit Kappa, based in Lurgan, have understood the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on local charities and because of this they have been pro-active in looking at ways to support and assist these groups.
The major packaging company has been taking part in a voluntary event ‘Map Lap’ which saw employees and their families exercising together over the months of August and September, to help with not only physical health but with their mental wellbeing also.
Their target was 1,306 miles in which the Lurgan team would be competing with other plants in Ireland and the UK, by walking, running, skipping, cycling, and swimming – and of course fancy dress was encouraged.
Over the course of lockdown a lot of people have been affected mentally and services have become heavily relied upon.
Mental health and wellbeing is a top priority in the plant. A number of employees became Mental Health first aiders in August and the plant was recently highly commended in the Belfast Telegraph Business awards for ‘Excellence in Workplace Health and Wellbeing’.
The Lurgan team’s fundraising efforts have not gone unnoticed in the area, in which they have seen food and water donations from local companies such as Simply Fruit, Classic Minerals, and Whites Porridge aiding them in their quest to raise much-needed funds and to help the Lurgan employees gain the essential fuel to keep adding to their miles.
Over the course of August the Lurgan plant completed nearly 4,000 miles while raising £4,500 in honour of a very worthwhile local charity – PIPS Upper Bann.
The Lurgan team achieved the Highest Fundraiser award and an additional £500 was donated to PIPS Upper Bann making the grand total a fantastic £5,000!
One of the Lurgan employees was also awarded for being the family/team with the highest miles racking up 560 miles in which they received £250, which was donated to their chosen charity, Air Ambulance NI.
Paul Friar, Plant manager at Smurfit Kappa Lurgan speaking to Armagh I said: “Everyone at Smurfit Kappa are doing their bit and getting involved with all fundraising efforts.
“Our fantastic colleagues are delighted to help out and support these worthy charities especially in these times which shows their great generosity and team spirit.”
Of course the fundraising efforts haven’t stopped in Smurfit Kappa Lurgan, in which the plant has raised £200 for local charity Action Cancer to help funding breast cancer screening service in Northern Ireland.
The next big event is ‘Children in Need’, where the plant will be raising money on Friday, November 13 for local Ceara School for sensory equipment for each of their classrooms.
Pre-pandemic they were able to come together and share the equipment and sadly they have lost the ability to do this over the last number of months.
Smurfit Kappa Lurgan is a market leader in packaging solutions with years of experience servicing both local and blue-chip companies. Their products are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improving our customer’s environmental footprint. More information can be found on www.smurfitkappa.ie
