TREMCO ILLBRUCK FOR PEOPLE

During the past months we have felt some kind of new responsibility or call it awareness for the communities in which we operate from our colleagues within the European organization. Locally all of our Business Units do many wonderful things to support and sponsor local schools, kindergartens, soccer clubs and other charity associations.  

We would like to share the three latest cases of employees’ volunteerism with you. All the projects are a great example how our employees spent their free time during their weekends and after work for supporting Charitiy associations full of idealism.  

3 peaks in 24 hours for the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). Another "absolutely crazy” project.    

On June 15th, a team of 10 people, colleagues and friends from Tremco illbruck and Nullifire were taking on the infamous Three Peaks Challenge. Glen Harrocks, Joanna Strickland, Craig Abbott, Mark Arnold, Stu Badbury, John Newbury, Leigh Hill, Steve Simmonds, Jeff Dyson and Adrew Whiteside decided to participate in this incredible challenge, with the aim of raising as much funds as possible for the NSPCC. The NSPCC is a fantastic cause, working tirelessly to put a stop to neglect and cruelty facing children in the UK today.  

The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon) within 24 hours.
Sounds simple enough? It’s not. The challenge involves trekking over 27 miles (44 km) – that’s further than a marathon - with a total ascent of 9,800 feet 3,000 metres. Add to that over 500 miles travelling between the 3 locations, plus the fact that one of the three climbs (Scafell Pike) will be in complete darkness. Suddenly, the word challenge takes on a whole new meaning.
Raising the money is as challenging as the walk itself. But the team made it happen. No amount of training could have prepared them for this extreme challenge. Besides one of the worst 24 hours of weather on record in June, they endured extreme physical demands and needed strong mental resilience to complete this tortuous challenge.  

All the team members were happy to say "yes, count me in", being asked for volunteers to take part in a challenge for charity. Easier said than done.   Months of tough physical training and preparation for each of the members but also the hard task of convincing people to part with their money in these economic times to sponsor them.  

The actual challenge included the most demanding personal effort possible, drops of temperature from " sweating like a bull and then freezing on a mountain top ”.   All the testimonials showed, that: "Even when you think your time is up, it’s amazing what inner strength you can find to achieve something you really want, with inspiration being hidden in all of us.” Trusting their statements, they have thoroughly enjoyed the full process of organization and carrying out the event and feel truly privileged to have taken part with such a fantastic group of people. They will never forget these experiences shared during this traumatic event!  

They all remember the "great times, great people, great determination.” Would they do it again? Ask them in another 6 months! Or to quote one of the happy 3 Peakers: " I’m also glad that I can now cross the 3 Peaks off the list of things to try – definitely once-in-a-lifetime is enough!’.  

Cologne employees roll up their sleeves to help elementary school in their neighbourhood. Tremco illbruck, a company of the RPM Building Solutions Group Europe in Cologne, has decided to provide long-term support to the integrative elementary GGS school. Beside the unbelievable but undeniable rotten down shape of the school building (not any renovation within 60 years), we have been touched by their, comparable to our Cornerstone, guiding idea: "Diversity as a tremendous chance” – learning from each other / acting together / becoming independent.  

On July 6^th and during 6 weeks, 40 colleagues all together came to the school on Friday afternoons and Saturdays to participate with full enthusiasm and man power in the "building works”. It was not just painting: suddenly brickwork fall out of walls and had to be refilled.   4,5 m high ceilings needed to be cleaned and prepared with primer and repainted twice. We have spent hours and hours in the building. FEMA, also a company of the RPM Building Solutions Group Europe, generously provided all the paintings and materials for free. We have chosen light and bright yellow, turquoise and blue colours. The main wall in the entrance is decorated with the guiding motive of the school and flowers were designed on the covers of the heating.  

The sport facilities and changing rooms of the boys and girls just look fantastic. All our colleagues have had so much fun and it was a wonderful atmosphere full of joy and laughter. Of course some colleagues got more paintings on their clothes and faces than on the walls – so what?    

End of August, school started again and we "handed over” the sports arena to the kids. The official handing over took place on September 24, 2012.  

Those 3 examples shown above prove one thing: it’s simply unbelievable, how much energy, power and motivation you receive from your colleagues when you fight for the same! No matter if you severely train on your bike for months and resist hamburgers and beer, if you follow your friends in the mountains in complete mist and dark, just with a torch or if you try to transform an ugly and depressing building into a colourful place appropriated for kids. For all of us it was a very important and enriching experience. Stay tuned – there will be more to come.