LandAid Day 2012 made the Great Moscow Circus look like a second-rate village fair.
Everything from the mustachioed ringmaster, Helical Bar chief executive Mike Slade, to cowboys astride their (inflatable) horses at the London treasure hunt – plus the suspense that property bosses would lose their head to a guillotine – captured the drama and jocularity you’d expect of the theme, “all the fun of the fair”.
LandAid Day is the property industry’s annual landmark fundraising effort, and it was embraced by the industry countrywide, with many chipping in to eventually raise £75,000 – and they’re still counting.
Peter Vernon was just one Grosvenor director compelled to call on clients to stump up ransom cash and save his head from the chop. They rallied, raising a staggering £18,000 in total. But, sadly, Vernon’s efforts were in vain, and some excellent acting skills were employed to give the impression of a condemned man.
Among the standout events was the London treasure hunt, in which 35 teams took part, using the latest GPS technology to solve clues around The City’s landmarks. Wearing bright LandAid T-shirts, they cut quite a dash among London’s suited and booted, and raised more than £8,000.
The Hollis Jesters won the hunt, and a wooden spoon for the McLaren Mustangs was offset with a best fancy dress prize. Special mention must go to the Make Architects team, which turned up as pirates and a parrot, mistaking the theme for “treasure hunt”. Their riches, no doubt, came in the form of fun.
Elsewhere, the Argent contingent laid on a zany body zorb football tournament, while others carried out pedi-bus relays, cycling challenges and bake-offs.
Joanna Averley, LandAid’s chief executive, described the energy of the day as “incredible”.
She said: “Through coming together they raised a massive amount of money for LandAid, beating last year’s total. I would like to thank the property industry for getting involved and going to great lengths to fundraise for young people most in need.”
All the money raised will go towards projects supported by LandAid, which help young people across the UK.
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