Beyond the Office: Margaret’s Marathon Fundraising Journey

In this series of blogs, we’re highlighting some of the inspiring stories from our colleagues who have committed their time and energy to supporting charities and community organisations. Today, we’re sharing Margaret’s fundraising story.

Margaret – Maggs, as she’s known to friends and colleagues – joined Idox 20 years ago. She is one of our Service Co-ordinators on the Service Desk, working with various internal teams (Project, CSM, Dev, Sales, etc.) and external customers to ensure the best support practices are in place.

Maggs’s fitness journey began in the summer of 2019 when, upon losing three stone, she discovered a newfound passion for physical challenges. What started as a personal health journey soon evolved into a commitment to endurance, which she has since utilised to benefit several charitable organisations.

In March 2023, Maggs participated in an 11.2-mile walk around Bury St Edmunds for Girls Night Out, who raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice. Determined to meet ever-greater challenges, she went on to complete an 18-mile walk from Bury St Edmunds to Clare for Positive Steps.

But as you can probably tell, Maggs isn’t the type to say, ‘that’ll do’. She got together with her friends to train for even more extraordinary feats of endurance: scaling the Scafell Peike via the corridor route and, in the very same month, facing the gruelling ‘Only the Brave’ 6k obstacle course for East Anglian Air Ambulance. Idox contributed extra funds for many of these fundraising efforts to show support for both Maggs and her chosen charities.

As a skilled baker, Maggs also hasn’t hesitated to leverage those talents. Her Christmas cakes, a birthday cake, and a 48-strong batch of bronuts have proven so delicious that they inspired plenty of generous donations.

The pinnacle of Maggs’ journey so far has been the recent London Moonwalk. Each year, approximately 55,000 women and around 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the Moonwalk event was set up to unite fundraisers in the fight against this disease.

The Moonwalks are unique as participants wear decorated bras adorned with feathers, flowers, rhinestones, and sequins. So, on the evening of Saturday 18th May of this year, Maggs set off from Clapham Common at 23:30, joining thousands of other participants in their fully ‘blinged-up’ bras. The 26.2-mile overnight walk through the streets of London was a test of endurance, community spirit, and resilience.

After a long and winding route, Maggs crossed the finish line at 8:30 on Sunday morning. “The event was an incredible experience,” says Maggs, “and it was fascinating to watch London as it transitioned from night into day. It was my toughest challenge yet, but I’m so pleased that I took part in helping to raise funds and awareness for this amazing breast cancer charity.”

Maggs’s journey is a testament to both her personal determination and the power of community. Her story should inspire us all to push our limits, support worthy causes, and make a tangible difference in the world. Through her marathon and fundraising efforts, Maggs has shown what it means to be part of a community dedicated to making a positive impact — what’s more, she’s demonstrated that you can make that impact while having fun along the way!