Fisher German’s Newark office to support DEBRA charity helping those with butterfly skin condition as part of firm’s ‘Big 25’ charity relay challenge across the UK

A graduate surveyor with a rare genetic skin blistering condition will be taking part in a massive fundraising challenge to raise money for a charity which supports people with her illness.

The national property consultant company Fisher German is marking it’s 25th anniversary, with its ‘Big 25’ charity challenge, where colleagues up and down the country will travel between each of the firm’s 25 UK office locations.

Each office have selected a charity to support, with the goal of raising £25,000, to be matched by the firm for a total of £50,000, which will then be split between the 25 chosen charities.

Starting tomorrow (Friday), the team from Fisher German’s Newark office will be taking part in a 93-mile relay from Newark to Knutsford.

To make the journey between offices even harder, they won’t be able use any form of motorised transport.

The team will be raising money for DEBRA, a national medical research charity and patient support organisation for people living with the genetic condition, epidermolysis bullosa (EB) — otherwise known as butterfly skin — which causes skin to become so delicate that it can blister and tear with even minor contact.

Graduate surveyor Kate Wesson is one of those affected by the condition, but says she lives a relatively normal life compared to the majority of people with EB, which is why she wanted to raise funds and awareness for the nationwide charity.

To kick off their five journey, members of the Newark team will set off by foot from the office in Cross Lane, Fernwood, to Newark Castle, where they will the challenge will then take to the water with Phil Padgett and Georgina Robinson paddleboarding up the River Trent.

Other staff members from the Newark office will take turns cycling and hiking through the Peak District to reach the office in Knutsford office.

“I have a mindset of ‘let’s get on and do this’,” Kate said.

“I’ve never let EB stop me and I live as much a normal life as I can for someone with EB. I want to raise money for those with EB who have it a lot worse.

“I’m not involved directly with DEBRA, but this is a small community of people with EB, and I want to try to raise awareness though this fundraising.

“I get regular flare-ups which sometimes makes it painful to walk. I still have scars on my knee from when I was seven that haven’t healed, but when I go to hospital every six months there are a lot of people in there worse than me.

“I feel really lucky that I have not got it that bad and it doesn’t really affect my work life.

“I’m in the infrastructure team and if I’m working on-site and having to walk a long way then I know I can ring my manager if my skin flares up.”

Anyone who would like to support the challenge can make a donation to Fisher German’s GiveWheel link at: https://givewheel.com/fundraising/7005/fisher-germans-big-25-challenge/.

Cy Grove, individual giving manager at DEBRA UK, said: “We are incredible grateful for the support of the Fisher German team in Newark.

“EB is an extremely rare and painful condition and by taking on this challenge to their Knutsford office, the team will raise not just vital awareness of the disease, helping us reach more people with EB, but also incredible funds to change lives and help stop the pain of EB.”