The Group CEO of Phoenix Group hit speeds of up to 100mph last week as he conquered fears and took on the world’s fastest zip wire in North Wales to raise over £15,000, to date, for Carers UK*.

Having campaigned for greater support for working carers for several years, Phoenix recently launched its “Caring for Carers” initiative and a major new partnership with Carers UK. As part of this, Phoenix Group CEO Andy Briggs committed to taking on a fundraising challenge chosen by his colleagues.

In a colleague poll, zip wiring through Penryhn Quarry, near Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, was the overwhelming choice of his colleagues. The zip wire isn’t for the faint hearted being 1.5km in length and reaching speeds of 100mph. Andy, along with his wife Suzanne and sons Oli and Charlie first climbed to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in England and Wales which stands at 1,085m in height, before taking on the zip line.

On completing the challenge, Andy Briggs, Group CEO said:

“I have always had a fear of heights, so I can’t thank my colleagues enough for choosing this fundraising challenge for me. In all seriousness, it was a real feat for me to first climb Snowdon and then go down the world’s fastest zip wire, but it was for an extremely worthwhile cause for Carers UK and I was determined to take it on.

“Last year over 2,600 Phoenix colleagues completed fundraising or volunteering activity, raising just under £600,000 for great causes so I wanted to play a part.

“At Phoenix we’re passionate about helping people secure a life of possibilities and in making a difference to society. We have been campaigning for greater support for working carers for a number of years and helping the millions of people who work and care to balance their challenges, so they can continue to support their loved ones while creating a better financial future is a large part of that.”

Caring responsibilities are one of the biggest drivers for reducing hours at work or exiting the workplace altogether. One in seven people in the UK are juggling work and care and nearly half a million (468,000) have given up work over the past two years as a result of caring**.

Phoenix Group is the UK’s largest long-term saving and retirement business and its “Caring for Carers” initiative will see it linking with charities across the UK that focus on caring***. The initiative aims to help millions of people who work and care for someone to better balance some of the challenges they might face, be they personal, financial, professional or emotional.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Phoenix as part of its ‘Caring for Carers’ initiative and are excited to see Chief Executive Andy Briggs take on this fundraiser, putting himself to the test with a challenge which has needed both physical endurance and a strong head for heights. What an achievement!

 “On behalf of Carers UK, I want to say a big thank you and congratulations to Andy and his family. It’s a pleasure to see your commitment to drive real change for carers. Your time and perseverance have raised valuable funds and awareness of caring that will greatly improve unpaid carers’ lives.”

Phoenix colleagues will be working with Carers UK this year to support unpaid working age carers and continue to develop volunteering and impactful fundraising opportunities.

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*The amount raised to date includes matching by Phoenix Group and is subject to audit completion.

**Carers UK, Juggling Work and Unpaid Care: A growing issue, juggling-work-and-care-report.pdf (carersuk.org)

***Phoenix Group launches “Caring for Carers” initiative | Phoenix Group (thephoenixgroup.com)