Harrison Spinks commercial director to run marathon for charity

Ruairi Giles, commercial director of bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks, is putting his best foot forward for The Furniture Makers’ Company by taking part in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon.

The event, which takes place on Sunday 26 April, will see around 40,000 people run 26.2 miles around the nation’s capital, with thousands of well-wishers and supporters flocking to London to line the streets and cheer on the runners.

The route starts south of the Thames at Blackheath before crossing Tower Bridge around mile 12. After taking a not-so brief detour through Canary Wharf and the City of London, the race draws to a close outside Buckingham Palace.

Ruairi said: “I started my training first week of January and hope to reach the finishing line at St James’s Park in 16 weeks’ time. As an active member of the furnishing industry, I plan on involving my colleagues, customers and suppliers to help raise as much as possible.”

Ruairi is hoping to raise £5,000 for the charity and would welcome donations and support from industry friends and colleagues

Ruairi added: “The Furniture Makers’ Company is there for everyone in our industry and as awareness of the charity increases so does the need to raise more funds. I’m proud to be running the marathon to help continue the excellent work that the charity does.”

Dids Macdonald OBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Harrison Spinks was one of the first companies to sign up to our One Step at a Time welfare campaign, helping us to get the word out that The Furniture Makers’ Company is here for industry workers in times of need. Helping people requires funds, though, so hats off to Ruairi Giles for setting the bar high and running the 55,000 steps of the London Marathon and raising money in the process. Everyone at The Furniture Makers’ Company wishes him luck and encourages the whole industry to support him reach his target.”

You can sponsor Ruairi by donating via the Virgin Money Giving page: Virginmoneygiving.com/fund/furnituremakerscompany.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About The Furniture Makers’ Company

The Furniture Makers’ Company is the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry. It fosters the industry by supporting those in need, nurturing skills and expertise and inspiring excellence. It provides support and assistance to those in need who are working or have worked in the UK furnishing industry. It supports students and young people with grants, training and mentoring in order to foster talent and safeguard the future of the industry. It encourages the highest standards and best practice in the design, making, marketing and selling of all kinds of furniture and furnishings throughout the UK, recognising quality through the award of its Guild Marks and Awards.

For further information, contact George Cooper, marketing@furnituremakers.org.uk or 020 7562 8522.