Epoch raises £49k for local charities with sponsored tests of endurance

By Nick Batten on 5 January, 2018

Staff at Bath-based Epoch Wealth Management are celebrating raising “tens of thousands” of pounds for two local charities by tackling some of the world’s toughest and remotest terrains.

Barry Newbury, managing partner of Epoch and Jon Rolfe, co-founding partner, have just returned from Central America where they completed a “grueling” challenge in aid of The Lewis Moody Foundation.

Barry and Jon traversed Costa Rica from east to west to raise funds for the foundation which was set up by former Bath and England Rugby star Lewis Moody to help young people living with brain tumours and their families.

Over eight days, the pair combined mountain biking, trekking and kayaking as they travelled through the wilderness of Costa Rica, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Their efforts have raised £29,000 for the charity.

Barry, who has a “personal interest” in the work of the charity, said: “Having lost a close friend to a brain tumour in 2016, I was shocked to learn of the relative under-funding brain tumour research currently receives.

“So I’m proud that the money we have raised will go towards helping those affected by this devastating condition.”

Meanwhile, Epoch PA Helen Witcombe has raised another £20,000 for Children’s Hospice South West by trekking to Mount Everest’s base camp. Helen also had to endure tough terrain and high altitudes during her two-week trek in Nepal in aid of children with life-limiting conditions and their families. She also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro back in 2014 to raise money for the hospice.

“The trek was tough, really tough,” said Helen. “The terrain is tricky, there are some steep ascents and also descents, a lot of dust, the diet is different, there is altitude to contend with and it’s very cold at night and in the morning. It’s a real assault on the body and mind. But it was all for a very worthwhile cause.”

Pictured above: from left to right, Jon Rolfe, Lewis Moody and Barry Newbury