With sights set on further fundraising ambitions this year, we’re gearing up for two exciting new stamina-testing events to support our nominated charity, Military vs Cancer – a charity that pledges support for veterans and investment into cancer research.
Motivated by the opportunity to not only push their physical limits but also raise vital funds for the organisation, the Vapour team is proud to be plunging ourselves into the intensive Loch Lomond Challenge on 3 June 2023.
The famous landmark, located in Scotland, is known for its breathtaking landscapes and serene waters – making it a perfect location for a day of philanthropic activity in the great outdoors.
Starting at Ardlui and ending in Balmaha, those taking part will have three options to choose from, to transit the beautiful sights – to walk 24 miles, canoe 18, or combine the two.
Commenting on the scale of the upcoming event, Graeme McCabe, cloud voice UC engineer and charity champion, commented: “This is by far the largest initiative we’ve headed up this year. And, having done a pre-event warm-up of the route myself, I can confirm it’s not one for the faint-hearted. It does, however, present an extraordinary experience for willing recruits, who are keen to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
“We’re excited and motivated to participate in the ‘real thing’ in just a few weeks’ time, and are grateful for the continued support of our friends, family, and Vapour’s wider network, as we work towards our fundraising goals as a collective”
Graeme will be joined by Tim Mercer, our CEO, Jason Fenwick, lead cloud infrastructure engineer, and Jordan Stephenson, senior cloud and network engineer — amongst a number of other candidates — on the day of the challenge.
The Leeds Marathon, scheduled for 28 May 2023, is another highly-anticipated event that hopes to drum up a few extra funds for Miltary vs Cancer – bringing together runners from all over the world to compete in the scenic city.
Paul Goodrick, Vapour’s voice engineer, will be lacing up his trainers and bounding across the concrete to compete for a new ‘personal best’ in the 26.2-mile course. Joined by the familiar face of former colleague Mark Taylor, we’re sure the pair will rack a handsome tally up ahead of the Loch Lomond Challenge.
Both events serve as important fundraising opportunities for Vapour to support our nominated not-for-profit, Military vs Cancer.
But it’s not just about totting up donations – it’s also about coming together as a team and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, creating awareness, and extending hope too.
If you would like to support our team’s upcoming efforts, you can donate through our dedicated JustGiving page, here.
If you know anything about Vapour, it’s that we don’t do things by halves. That’s why, on Monday 6 March, we’re doubling up on the fundraising efforts at HQ — with two events underway to help drum up funds for Military vs Cancer.
In the spirit of our business development manager, Mark Taylor (sorry, Mark!), we’re donning our most outrageous patterned cotton fabrics, for Vapour’s sh!t shirt competition. As well as employees and friends of the business, plus residents at the mill we call home, we’re encouraging as many people as possible to wear something fun to work, and donate £2 to our JustGiving page.
Come on, we’ve all got one somewhere! So, dust your favourite piece off ahead of the big day, add a few quid to the tally, and share your pictures on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, using the #VapourFundraising hashtag. Don’t forget to tag us!
The excitement doesn't end there though. We’ll also be putting our culinary skills to the test and running our very own bake sale at Vapour’s Huddersfield office. From fairy cakes and fondant fancies to fresh pastries, fruit scones, cheesecakes, and more, our bake sale hopes to be the hit success it was last year. And who doesn’t like to indulge in a sweet or savory treat from time to time?
If you’re keen to get your hands on some of the goods, you can find the stall in the reception at Heritage Exchange in Lindley, from 10am-5pm. If you fancy whipping up some extra food to bolster what’s on offer, we’d appreciate any donations on the day too.
2023 is just around the corner, which means it’s not long until we kickstart our fundraising activity for Military vs Cancer. With a jam-packed calendar of events – including a cocktail making masterclass, sh!t shirt competition, and kayak around Loch Lomond – it’s safe to say we’re excited to drum up some handsome funds.
But Vapour has done enough talking for now. That’s why we’re inviting the charity’s chairman, David Bathgate, to take a turn in the hotseat, and share more about the organisation’s work to-date, hopes for the future of fundraising, and why working with businesses like Vapour is so important. Take it away, Dave…
When was Military vs Cancer founded?
Military vs Cancer was founded in January 2018 as a fundraiser, and we gained status as an official charity in May 2022.
And what was the motivation behind launching the charity?
The loss of far too many friends and family members to cancer – in particular my brother in June 2017.
Talk us through your motto, ‘by sea, land, air and all, together let’s make cancer fall’:
The motto incorporates all three military services – the Royal navy, the Royal Air Force, and the British Army – and all those who support us.
How much have you managed to raise so far?
Approximately £160,000 – and counting!
What kinds of things do the donations support?
We support military and Ministry of Defence personnel – past and present – who are suffering the effects of cancer. Most recently, we have sent a family overseas on a memory making holiday, made home modifications for a soldier to provide some independence, and sent a family away to The Lakes as a patient recovers from surgery.
As we are a new charity, we unfortunately cannot support everyone. But as a military organisation, we felt we must do all we can to support those outside of our network – so we therefore decided to support Maggie’s for at least the next 12 months too.
Tell us about your favourite fundraising activity to-date:
That’s a tough one, as they have all been amazing! Our fundraising is all based around bringing military and civilian personnel together to fight cancer, which always results in having a great time whilst supporting those in need.
I suppose my favourite was the Field Gun Pull, which saw over 200 people from across all three services come together to pull a one-ton Boer War Field Gun 330 miles – from RAF Scampton in Lincoln to His Majesties Naval Base Clyde in Helensburgh Scotland. We met so many incredible people on the way, but I was mostly surprised at the fact 200 military personnel all together got on so well… we don’t always play nice!
And what’s something in the pipeline that you’re looking forward to?
Our Loch Lomond Challenge coming up in June next year will see around 80 recruits canoe 28 miles, walk 32 miles, or a combination of the two, the length of Loch Lomond. It’s a beautiful setting for a fantastic get together of likeminded people, determined to make a difference – coordinated by Vapour’s very own Graeme McCabe.
Why is working with businesses like Vapour so important to you?
Vapour gives us the opportunity to increase our reach to a far greater audience, which in turn highlights our services to people that may not have heard of us. Without this support, we are caught in our own network of military personnel.
As well as being highlighted to likeminded companies that also support Military vs Cancer, Vapour will have the opportunity to take part in our fundraising events – such as our annual ball and Loch Lomond challenge.
Complete the following sentence: Military vs Cancer is…
…focused and determined to be the difference those suffering from this horrible disease need us to be. Our Military background will not let us fail, and we will fight to ensure we do all we can to help.
Finally, what are your hopes for the charity in 2023?
To increase awareness of the charity, develop business sponsorships with the help and support of companies such as Vapour, and to continue building on our already solid foundations. Here’s to a fruitful year!
Want to donate? Head to the JustGiving page, today. We’re incredibly grateful for donations large and small.
Kickstarting our 2023 fundraising calendar with a bang, Vapour is set to host a tech ‘networking event with a difference’ on Thursday 2 February.
Taking to Mad Frans in Leeds – which celebrates the best of Yorkshire produce, with a selection of signature craft beers and ales from local breweries – the Vapour team will welcome guests from across the district, for an evening of quizzing, connecting, and donating, all in aid of nominated charity, Military vs Cancer.
Attendance is free, with doors to the venue opening at 5pm. However, we’ll also be running our very own, multi-format quiz to ramp up entertainment on the evening – ticketed at £10 entry per team of up to four players. All proceeds will, of course, be directed towards supporting cancer patients, their families, and formally-appointed carers across the British Isles.
Did we also mention that there’ll be a whopping £100 cash prize for the winners? Thanks to a handsome addition from Vapour CEO Tim Mercer, those in pole position will be going home with heavier pockets on the night too.
So, if you like bespoke cocktails, premium spirits and craft beers, top-quality quizzes, connecting with like-minded tech professionals, and raising money for worthy causes, this will be right up your street.
Whether you swing by for an hour, or see the whole event through, we’d love to have as many faces as possible there.
Think you have what it takes to be the Vapour quiz champion?
Having recently shared the news of our partnership with Military vs Cancer, we’ve seen a surge in the number of queries eagerly anticipating what’s in store for 2023. And the Vapour team has been busy behind-the-scenes, planning exactly that.
Over the next 12 months, the collective will be rallying together to drum up as many donations as possible, through a host of individual, business, and public activities. But they can’t do it alone. By sharing our fundraising calendar, we’re not only holding ourselves accountable to our promise, but we’re also hoping to see a few extra faces spurring Vapour on from the side-lines.
Whether you earmark one date or all eight, donate fifty pence or one hundred pounds, both Vapour and Military vs Cancer will be grateful for any support received – with all funds providing relief to cancer patients, their families, and formally-appointed carers across the British Isles.
Here’s what awaits us in 2023…
February – quiz night
Taking to Mad Frans in Leeds on Thursday 2 February, we’ll be putting our general knowledge to the test for our first charity event of the year.
If you’re keen to be involved, pencil it in your diary and keep your eyes peeled on our LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more information. Or, if you’d rather have the invite land straight in your inbox, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter, The Download?
March – bake sale
Get your mixing bowls and oven gloves at the ready, because in March we’re bringing back the Vapour bake sale. Savoury or sweet, kitchen favourite or twist on a classic, we look forward to seeing a full table in our HQ reception on 6 March.
As well as welcoming donations via a table-top tub, you’ll be able to add to the tally through our JustGiving page.
March – sh!t shirt competition
Come on, we’ve all got one in the back of the wardrobe somewhere! Also on 6 March, we’re encouraging Vapour employees, as well as other residents at the mill we call home, and friends of the business, to get involved by wearing a sh!t shirt to work.
So, dust yours off ahead of the big day, add a donation, and don’t forget to tag us in your pictures on social using the #VapourFundraising hashtag.
May – Leeds Marathon
If you’ve followed us on our social channels for a while, you’ll know we have a couple of avid runners amongst the Vapour team. Business development manager, Mark Taylor, and voice engineer Paul Goodrick, will be lacing up their trainers for the Leeds Marathon on 14 May.
The official 2023 route is a looped course that starts and finishes at Headingley stadium, totalling 26.2 miles in length. With training already underway, we’re looking forward to seeing who finishes in the quickest time! Unsurprisingly, they’ll be on the hunt for sponsorships too.
June – Loch Lomond challenge
Ever kayaked around Scotland’s famous Loch Lomond? Neither have we – but there’s a first for everything! We’ll be putting on our wetsuits and picking up our paddles for this event hosted by our charity partner on 3 June, along with 80-100 other willing participants.
Whether you want to come and cheer us along, can spare some top tips and words of encouragement, or have any generous donations, we’d be grateful for your support.
September – Yorkshire Coast relay
On 1 September, some of the team will be passing the baton on a scenic route along the Yorkshire Coast. Starting at Whitby and finishing at Bridlington, the 40+ mile stretch will be a challenge of endurance and mindset – and any sponsors will be very welcome. Let’s hope the weather picks up by then!
September – cocktail making masterclass
It wouldn’t be a Vapour events calendar if there wasn’t a sniff of networking involved. Returning to Mad Frans in Leeds on 21 September, we’ll be inviting friends and partners of the business to channel their inner mixologist for one night – with an expert demo of the hottest drinks around.
If you’re thirsty for a ticket, watch this space!
September – Autumn ball
The 2022 event, hosted by Military vs Cancer, raised an incredible total of £28,583.15. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that 16 September 2023 has already been earmarked for a second instalment of the ball.
Hosted at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, tickets cost £60 and are currently on sale – email info@militaryvscancer.com for further details, and to purchase. We look forward to seeing as many familiar faces as possible, suited and booted for the worthy occasion.
You can find our JustGiving page, here.
Members of the Vapour team and its extended network headed down to London last Thursday to show our CEO Tim Mercer support as he stepped into the boxing ring at CRN’s Fight Night — raising vital funds for our nominated charity of the year, Borne.
Despite putting on a truly courageous fight from start to finish, Tim ‘No Mercy’ Mercer was just pipped at the post by his opponent, Paul O’Sullivan in a choice blow which brought it down to points. Although he didn’t secure a blue corner win, the top tier performance did earn our founder the esteemed ‘Fighter of the Night’ title — ending the knuckle biting fundraiser on a high!
“It was a fantastic experience that made the weeks and months of hard graft worth it!” commented Vapour’s champion. “Those who know me will testify how much I revel in a physical challenge, so the opportunity to test my endurance, resolve, and grit at the event was too good to miss. It was emotional to see so many supporters out in full force ringside on the night as well.”
And the team isn’t stopping there. Next month, Vapour’s charity golf day returns to Oulton Hall in Leeds by popular demand. Following the success of last year’s event in September — which saw the team raise a fantastic £6,385 — golf fanatics will gather on the green on Thursday 23 June for a day of friendly competition and charitable donations. For anyone wishing to attend, there is still a handful of places remaining. But be quick — they won’t be free for long.
In 2021, the team announced its pledge to dig deep for this hardworking medical research charity. And since the announcement, various colleagues have got stuck into a number of fundraising activities — bake sales, sponsored walks, a half marathon, and an intense week of endurance fitness training, to name a few. So far, the donation tally sits at an astonishing £10,500, but we’re sure there’s plenty more where that came from.
Reflecting on the reasons for choosing Borne – an organisation dedicated to saving lives, preventing disability, and creating lifelong health for mothers and babies – Tim notes: “Our families are what we seek to protect the most, and with premature birth an ongoing difficulty that nobody completely understands, there seemed no better cause.
“It is the leading reason for childhood mortality in the world today. More significant than infection, trauma or cancer, it affects some 15 million babies across the world every year – including nearly 60,000 in the UK. So, we want to do our bit to help stop babies being born too soon. And we hope we can drum up a fair amount of support for our varied efforts.”
Follow Vapour on social media to watch more of the team’s fundraising efforts unfold.
Vapour boss Tim Mercer has signed up for his toughest fundraiser yet, all in aid of the premature birth charity, Borne.
On 19 May, our CEO will don his boxing gloves and step into the ring for the CRN Fight Night, at The Brewery in London.
A sell out industry event that has raised £220,000 for charity since the contests began in 2008, this is Tim’s first time up against an opponent.
Aware the selection process is notoriously tough, he applied to fight at the start of 2022, before being invited for a nerve-racking assessment. He was one of only 16 UK tech professionals selected, and all eyes are now on the black-tie event to see if Tim ‘No Mercy’ Mercer can bring home the title.
Fighting for the blue team, he will face Paul O’Sullivan, UK sales director at Threatscape, in the red corner.
Travelling to the Ring Boxing Club in Southwark, South London, every week for training, Tim had already upped his fitness regime last year, in preparation for his ‘week of hell’. That particular challenge - which saw him row, cycle, run and climb 286km - was one of his first major fundraisers for Borne back in October.
Since then, he and the Vapour team have raised £8,500 for the charity - and counting - with hopes that Fight Night will get them to £15,000. The ultimate goal is to reach £23,000 before the year is out.
Commenting on his latest challenge, Tim said: “I’m a big boxing fan, so when I saw the application process open for Fight Night, I thought - why not?!
“But when the news dropped that I’d made the lineup, s**t got real!
“There’s a difference between sparring and going toe to toe with an opponent - as I’ve already learned. But I’m tackling this event just as I would anything else - properly! I’m training hard, eating really well, and improving my technique week by week. I’ve got a table of supporters coming to cheer me on but I hope people will get behind me from a distance too, and dig deep for Borne.”
Over 15 million babies are born too soon every year, and 1 million of those die. Borne is a charity dedicated to saving lives, preventing disability, and creating lifelong health for mothers and babies. Anyone wishing to sponsor Tim can donate via Vapour’s JustGiving page.
Vapour CEO, Tim Mercer, has today embarked on a gruelling 286km challenge in aid of the charity Borne.
The five-day feat will see Tim complete 13km of runs, 20km of rowing and 211km of cycling, as well as the 42km Yorkshire Three Peaks climb in only eight hours!
The bold quest has been shaped to raise money for the charity that helps prevent premature birth. It forms the latest in a series of events organised by the Vapour team, as colleagues collectively strive to hit their £23,000 target, before the middle of next year.
When Tim first signed up for this mammoth challenge, he actually expected to be heading to the Caribbean Sea, to make his way west across Costa Rica on foot, bike, kayak and raft.
His original adventure – which was billed as testing the limits of participants’ physical and mental endurance – would have seen him traverse remote jungle routes, reach heights of up to 3000m, and pass coffee and sugar cane plantations, before reaching the Pacific Ocean.
But while Covid-19 put a halt to these once-in-a-lifetime plans, he was determined the pandemic would not impact on his fundraising. So, he’s swapping the jungle for the gym, and tackling most of his 286km at Reform – the on-site facility at our Huddersfield HQ.
“When I first signed up for the Costa Rica coast to coast expedition – which would have seen me tackle the 286km with the likes of Will Greenwood MBE – I knew it was going to be tough. But if it was easy, why would people sponsor me?” said Tim.
“I don’t like to do anything half-heartedly. I’ve been training for months and didn’t want the planning and effort to go to waste. So, I put my thinking cap on, and have planned my own version of the challenge, which matches the Costa Rica itinerary as closely as possible – just with slightly different scenery!
“I really hope people will dig deep and support me, whether they donate to the JustGiving page or turn up to run a few kilometres alongside me!”
To support Tim, you can donate via JustGiving and follow his progress on social media – #RaiseWithVapour on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Only a matter of days after Vapour’s new annual charity campaign was revealed, CEO Tim Mercer has already announced the first of his fundraising quests for Borne. And he’s appealing to business owners, innovation heads, CTOs and IT leaders for support.
Over the next six months, Tim will donate up to 24 days of his time to deliver digital transformation sessions for organisations large and small. Covering topics ranging from secure hybrid working infrastructures and debunking the misconceptions associated with SD-WAN, to robotic process automation for companies regardless of size, Vapour will not earn a penny from these consultations.
But in return for his expertise, Tim will be asking the firms to donate £250 for a three-hour session, or £500 for a seven-hour session. And 100% of the monies raised, will go towards raising £23,000 for the charity committed to preventing premature birth.
“When we unveiled our chosen charity for 2021-22, last week, we made a start on drumming up funds the very same day with a staff auction,” said Tim. “And the team was brimming with ideas to climb mountains, clock up the miles, get quizzing and hold bake off style competitions. But reaching our colossal £23,000 target will be a feat in itself. So, it’s important we think of as many ideas as possible.
“As organisations have undergone more workplace change in the past 12 months than they ordinarily would in a 5-10 year period, I thought that the donation of my time, industry knowledge and advice could help fire up our fundraising efforts, while also benefitting the organisations I talk to. I’m willing to cover any topic from our toolkit, or any solution that we currently highlight on our website. So, I look forward to discovering what I’ll be tasked with, and hope to see the coffers filling up.”
To discuss potential dates and topics for one of the consultations, please email gs@vapourcloud.com.
Want to donate? Check out our JustGiving fundraising page.
Follow Vapour on social media to watch the team’s fundraising efforts unfold:
Every year, Vapour pledges to fundraise for a worthy cause. So, for the next 12 months, the company will dig deep for the charity committed to preventing premature birth – Borne.
And all sights are set on the boldest target yet – a staggering £23,000!
From sponsored treks to corporate auctions, the team will leave no stone unturned on the mission to fill the coffers. In fact, a jam-packed agenda of activities will be revealed as the weeks unfold, with something for every single colleague to get involved in.
“Ever since the company was founded, we’ve been determined to exist for far more than commercial gain,” explains CEO Tim Mercer. “And over the years, we’ve learnt that giving back isn’t just the right thing to do – it brings us together as a team too.
“That’s why some of our fundraising efforts will centre on pushing ourselves and taking on personal challenges or feats of endurance. At the other end of the scale, we’ve also come up with ideas that are, quite frankly, pretty daft, so we can have fun at the same time as doing something good.”
Reflecting on the reasons for choosing Borne – an organisation dedicated to saving lives, preventing disability, and creating lifelong health for mothers and babies – Tim adds: “Our families are what we seek to protect the most, and with premature birth an ongoing problem that nobody understands, there seemed no better cause.
“It is the leading reason for childhood mortality in the world today. More significant than infection, trauma or cancer, it affects some 15 million babies across the world every year – including nearly 60,000 in the UK. So, we want to do our bit to help stop babies being born too soon. And we hope we can drum up a fair amount of support for our varied efforts.”
Want to donate? Check out our JustGiving fundraising page.
Follow Vapour on social media to watch the team’s fundraising efforts unfold:
