Walking the walk of CSR: Whyte & Mackay continues its 46,625.7 km challenge

INTERNATIONAL. Leading spirits company, Whyte & Mackay*, is well on its way to completing an eight-week, 46,625.7 km virtual journey around the world.

As reported, its employees are walking/running/cycling to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities around the world.

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ‘Whyte & Mackay Cares’ Round The World Challenge, which started on 1 July, has a £50,000 (US$62,800) target.

It was triggered by the company’s awareness of the “extraordinary challenges” facing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it takes inspiration from the heroic feats of the UK’s recently-knighted Captain Sir Tom Moore, known for raising money for charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the coronavirus lockdown.

Employees based in Canada, USA, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, Germany, France, Spain and Russia are taking part alongside their UK-based colleagues.

In the UK, Whyte & Mackay is supporting the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) via a direct fundraising page on JustGiving.com where donations can be made.

The company’s Glasgow-based team aim to raise £25,000. Their page highlights COVID-19’s impact on individuals and communities around the world, underlining a “common experience that is unprecedented in its intensity in our lifetime”.

“In many cases this has caused individuals and families untold stress. Loneliness, health issues and financial uncertainty are but three obvious pressures on people’s mental health.

“In many countries mental health has been recognised as being as important as physical health and potentially an issue of huge proportions as we live through and emerge from the current crisis. In others, the case may not be as openly acknowledged but the issues still exist.

“Given that we can’t travel in the current climate, we decided to do so virtually and set ourselves a challenge of walking/running/cycling around the world.”

Whyte & Mackay Chief Commercial Officer Nick Garland commented: “Thanks goes to the organising team for leading the way and creating a fun challenge that everyone can get involved in. We’re living in unprecedented times, as has been widely recognised.

“That we stay connected and support our community and our friends further afield is really important, especially now. The role charities play in keeping people connected, and providing access to the support that is needed is vital. We are delighted to play our part by raising funds to support their work.”

“This challenge not only encourages colleagues to exercise and take time away from their screens, it also has given a platform for colleagues across the world to connect, communicate and challenge each other” – Whyte & Mackay HR Advisor Emma Docherty

Whyte & Mackay HR Advisor Emma Docherty added: “Many of our colleagues have been unable to work in their offices during the pandemic and have had to adapt to working from home. This left some feeling isolated and we wanted to ensure our colleagues still felt connected to their teams and the wider business.

“To do this, we felt it was vital to put even more focus on employee wellbeing. This challenge not only encourages colleagues to exercise and take time away from their screens, it also has given a platform for colleagues across the world to connect, communicate and challenge each other.”

Many Whyte & Mackay employees have set up their own pages on the JustGiving platform. Graham Rushworth is already over halfway to his targeted £500. He is cycling and walking an average of 175 km per week to total 1,400 km over the eight-week period.

Innes Gibb is cycling 1,000 km with the aim of raising at least £300 and Nick Barker has committed to “run, walk, cycle and crawl” the equivalent distance (826 km) from his home in Chepstow, South Wales, through England into Scotland, ending at The Dalmore Distillery on the Cromarty Firth.

Laura MacDonald notes that the pandemic has “amplified the essential need for mental health services”. While “not a natural runner”, Laura has pledged to cover at least 10 km a week; her first attempt at exercise after an unexpected surgery earlier this year.

Graham Hood has set himself a £500 pound target to support Action For Pulmonary Fibrosis and members of the Whyte & Mackay Middle East India Team have set a £5,000 goal. All funds raised will go to the Al Jalila Foundation which is regarded as a pioneer in mental health in the region.

Whyte & Mackay has also set up a separate fundraising page to collect donations and share across charities in other countries where they are not affiliated to JustGiving including: Canadian Mental Health Association, Mental Health America, the Taipei-based Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation, the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong,  Al Jalila Foundation (UAE), and the South African Federation of Mental Health.

*Note: Whyte & Mackay is a Platinum Partner at the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo.

Whyte & Mackay Travel Retail Director Richard Trimby said: “Whyte & Mackay is delighted to be part of the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2020, which we believe will provide an exciting environment for us to engage with our customer partners and explore a world of new possibilities.

“While the Coronavirus COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the global business this year and the recovery path will be long and hard, we are confident that the resilience and adaptability of the industry will ensure we can return strong and vibrant in the future.

“The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2020 is a creative and innovative solution for all of us to reunite and collaborate in order to build a solid and successful future together; a perfect springboard for the travel retail industry to enter a new and exciting era.”​

Whyte & Mackay is one of many top-class players in a stellar-line up of independent and multi-nationals at this breakthrough Expo. For details, please contact Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com