Walton estate agents embark on fund-raising initiative for Phabkids

Directors Peter Brown, 35, and Steve Turner, 37, from Harmes Turner Brown, in High Street, will be running for Phabkids, a charity dedicated to integrating able bodied and disabled children in the community.

They pledged to raise a minimum of £3,000 but during a charity dinner held on Saturday September 19, at Whiteley Village Hall, in Hersham, which was a first of many fund-raising initiatives they have planned in the lead up to the marathon they made a whopping £5,080.

Dad-of-two, Mr Brown, of Ravenswood Close, Cobham, who will be running the marathon for the first time, said: "We wanted to run on behalf of Phabkids having looked at various charitable causes. We both have young children and so all kid's charity's are close to our hearts.

"When I was a teenager I volunteered with my father at a horse riding centre called the Diamond Centre, in Carshalton,and it was hugely rewarding for me.

"I guess this was my first step and experience of being in the company of disabled people of a similar age to me and this integration I feel was a great experience for all involved.

"We were delighted with the money raised on Saturday. It was unbelievable. Everyone was so generous."

Dad-of-two, Mr Turner, of Cranbourne Close, Hersham, who completed the Flora London Marathon in 2001, said: "After I ran the last marathon I swore I'd never do it again. But I was spurred on by my wife,Justine, who ran this year."

The charity dinner included a dinner, disco, raffle, auction and a caricature artist.
Mr Brown added: "The dance floor was packed, we sold over £1,000 worth of raffle tickets, our 10 auction lots which included a mountain bike, signed Manchester United and Chelsea football shirts and a professional house clean went well. People were going mad to win."

Other fund-raising initiatives to come include a raffle and a golf day.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the pair can log onto www.justgiving.com/pete-steve-marathon or pop in and see them in the office.