Portrait Software secure first place in The Prince’s Trust Costa Rica Coast to Coast Challenge

Source: Portrait Software

Staff from Portrait Software have proved themselves champions, securing first place in The Prince’s Trust Costa Rica Coast to Coast Challenge. The participants not only beat10 other teams from Capgemini and Business Objectives in an extreme race across the breadth of Costa Rica, but also raised over £19k to support disadvantaged young people in the UK.

The Challenge saw them taking on a series of gruelling physical and mental tasks; hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and white water rafting to cross the continent from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, in order to raise money for the youth charity. The team negotiated 250 kilometres through tropical terrain, hiking up mountains and through jungle, cycling in an intensive uphill race to cross the Continental Divide at 2,330m, and white water rafting and kayaking through virgin rainforest.

Not only did the team members have to engage in an intensive training programme in order to face the physical challenges in Costa Rica, they also had to raise a minimum of £3,150 each to take part in the Challenge. The participants have undertaken a variety of activities to pull together the funds, including encouraging friends and family to donate to their justgiving webpage, offering their services as gardeners, decorators and builders, and running a series of race nights to raise funds, as well as being supported by their company.

The team is made up of six Portrait Software staff:

• Tom Coombs – 25 - Developer
• Paul Bishop – 46 - Technical Architect
• Kieran Kilmartin – 45 - Director Product Marketing & Product Management
• Gareth Evans – 44 - EVP & General Manager - Portrait Solutions
• Neil Sturmey – 32 - Support Centre Manager
• Graham Hay -  25 - Developer

Kieran Kilmartin said: “This was a fantastic team challenge - the spirit of enjoyment and competitiveness between the various teams made for a great week where people leant a lot about themselves and their potential, as well as making new contacts and friends. To finish was an amazing achievement, and to win was the icing on the cake! To top it all, the total funds raised by all the teams will do no end of good for a great cause.”

Prince’s Trust Challenges offer a range of unique opportunities to take on life-changing physical challenges in remote international locations, and provide vital help to some of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people. Participants can choose from different disciplines including running, cycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and abseiling, in a mix of locations in different climates and altitudes, from the Sahara Desert or the jungles of Asia to remote sections of the Great Wall of China and the summit of the Continental Divide in Costa Rica. This year The Trust is adding more groundbreaking new itineraries to their line-up of fundraising Challenges with an exclusive opportunity to brave the untouched Borneo jungle and the chance take on an Extreme Challenge in South Africa.

For more information about Prince’s Trust Challenges visit: 

www.princes-trust.org.uk/challenge