June 24, 2014 11.58 am This story is over 116 months old

Lincoln Co-op manager to walk a mile in diving suit for charity

Tough walk: A Lincolnshire Co-op food store manager in Lincoln will walk one mile in a vintage diving suit to raise money for charity.

A manager from a Lincoln Co-op food store will walk his hardest mile yet in order to raise money for the organisation’s charity of the year.

Lincoln City Square Store Manager Phil Goddard will walk a mile through the city centre wearing a full, old-fashioned diving suit for Alzheimer’s Society.

The suit includes a copper helmet which is over 100-years-old, lead boots and a lead weight on his chest.

He’ll start his mile at 10am on July 4 from the City Square branch and onto the High Street, finishing at Lincolnshire Co-op’s Head Office on Tentercroft Street.

His work colleagues will also join him to help drag and support him along the way.

His walk is part of the Miles for Memories challenge, where the Co-op staff aim to clock up 12,000 miles in order to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.

Phil will walk from the store to the Co-operative's Head Office, via High Street. Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op

Phil will walk from the store to the Co-operative’s Head Office, via High Street. Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op

Each mile represents someone living with dementia in the county, and staff will walk, run, cycle and even hold a three-legged race in order to reach the target.

Staff have until July 5 to complete the challenge.

Member Engagement Manager Richard Whittaker said: “Our colleagues have a fantastic track record when it comes to taking part in team fundraising for our charity of the year and I can’t wait to see how they choose to rack up the miles.

“We hope our customers look out for events going on in their local outlet and really get behind our colleagues and show their support for such a worthwhile charity.”

As well as Phil’s walk, Head Office in Lincoln will cycle the distance they all collectively travel to work on an exercise bike in the office, the Tritton Road Travel team will run or walk on a treadmill the 46 mile distance to East Midlands Airport on June 28 and 29, and a team from Bracebridge Heath Food Store will cycle between other stores in sports-themed fancy dress and will hold a cake sale on June 28.

So far this year, Co-op colleagues have raised over £32,000 through fundraising events such as Lincoln 10k, raffles and fun days in store.