75 staff, friends and families completed The Orwell Walk.

The Walk offered a choice of 14, 19 and 25 miles, with routes along public footpaths, wet/muddy beaches, thick woodland and uneven farmland. All together the team walked 1300 miles. Sponsorship continues to flow in and they hope to achieve £10,000 in donations. Monies raised will go to the Pound Gates and Sevatas Fund with the Suffolk Community Foundation and the Ipswich East Rotary Club, the organiser of the event. Monies donated to the Fund will be used to support causes that benefit children and young people in need, helping them make the most of opportunities and overcoming the barriers to leading full and active lives.

Pound Gates also run a volunteering scheme so staff will be able to support their good causes with time and other resources.

Kevin Collins, owner and managing director of Pound Gates said: "Whilst on the Monday after the Walk members of the team were feeling sore there was a great buzz in the office. What a great way to celebrate our 25 years. I am hugely grateful to all our walkers and for the wonderful encouragement and financial support we have had."

To gain staff engagement, and to help get fit, preparation for the Walk was launched in May by staff taking part in ‘Walk to Work Week’, completing 500 miles between them and kicking off their fund raising activity with a pound a mile donation from the company.

In the same week Kevin Collins hosted a party to celebrate their 25 years of business with clients, suppliers and old friends including, Allan Pound co-founder, his wife Irene and Hilary Gates the wife of the late co-founder Ivan Gates. Guests from the night were generous with their encouragement and pennies.

Stephen Singleton, Chief Executive of the Suffolk Community Foundation, said “We are hugely impressed and grateful for the efforts of the Pound Gates team at this weekend’s Orwell Walk, and we congratulate them all for taking part in this landmark local event. It is wonderful to think that all their hard work will make a real difference to the lives of many local children and young people who will benefit from the Pound Gates and Sevatas Fund, which is managed here at the Foundation.”

In December Pound Gates got the 25 year celebrations off to a flying start when 25 of their staff and family cycled 25 miles dressed as Santas and raised over £7,500 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices.