15 March 2011
BIG-HEARTED staff from pharmaceutical organisation SCM Pharma are set to face their fears with a terrifying zip slide from the top of the Baltic to help raise money for The Stroke Association.
Seven staff from contract manufacturer SCM Pharma will take the daunting 918ft zip slide from the Baltic in Gateshead across the River Tyne to hopefully raise £1000 to support the only charity solely concerned with helping everyone affected by stroke across the UK.
SCM’s sliders include Claire Aitkenhead, Kayleigh Robson, Kelly Rae, Joanne Anderson, Joyce Burns, Cathy Weldon and just one brave gent, Robert Ashton. They will glide above the river at speeds up to 20mph as part of the ‘Frankie Says Slide’ event from Gateshead to Newcastle’s quayside at 1.30pm on the 19th March.
Claire Aitkenhead, office administrator at Prudhoe-based SCM Pharma said: “Given around 120,000 people in the UK suffer their first stroke every year, The Stroke Association is a very worthwhile cause for our team to support.
“Needless to say, but we are all of course petrified but also excited and looking forward to the day. As it’s my birthday on the day, a good present will be not to fall into the Tyne and safely arrive in the Pitcher & Piano at the other side!”
Stroke is the UK’s third biggest killer with someone likely to have one every five minutes. It can happen to anyone at anytime in their life and are sudden with potentially devastating consequences.
Award-winning SCM Pharma specialises in the manufacturing of sterile drug products and is one of only a handful of companies worldwide that can handle and produce certain novel, difficult and dangerous products.
Dianne Sharp, managing director at SCM Pharma, said: “We are very proud of our team taking part in this amazing challenge as it will help fundraise for a great charity. We hope their bravery and slight madness helps raise lots of money and the profile of the worthwhile cause that is The Stroke Association.”
With around 53 employees, SCM Pharma offers production services to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies across the world. It works with specialty pharmaceutical companies and many of the global big pharma firms across areas including cancer, epilepsy, dermatitis and sexual health.
To donate, please visit http://fundraising.stroke.org.uk/SCM
ENDS
Media contact: Raman Sehgal at SCM Pharma
01661 838 186 / ramans@scm-pharma.com
