25 YEARS OF INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Virgin Atlantic has always taken it's social responsibility very seriously, well when we say "seriously" we're "serious" about helping out charities we just don't always do "serious" events for our fundraising as Caroline, one of our longest serving members of staff, explains..

My most memorable moments at Virgin Atlantic have been the opportunities to work hard for charities having fun at the same time.

In support of 'Comic Relief' back in March 1997, I was one of 3 staff who organised for 50 'Virgins' to do a tandem parachute jump with the Infamous Red Devils at RAF Weston on the Green. The RAF agreed on the Friday and our first 25 victims were to jump on the following Weds. It was a huge achievement but we managed to enlist corporate sponsorship to the tune of £12,000 within 3 working days and with the Red Devils, Hunting Aviation who supplied the sky van and our fuel suppliers the £12,000 was all pure donation money. The remaining 25 'jumpers' arrived on the Friday, Red Nose day itself, and we were joined by Richard Branson who even strapped himself in and flew with the organising team to 12,000 feet where he shook our hands and pushed us out for the publicity jump with our red noses on and a cheque now written for £24,000 - yes Richard doubled our sponsorship to make a handsome donation to Red Nose day 1997.

This same year I was involved in organising an abseil down the old Gatwick Control Tower and a corporate assault course day at Sandhurst Academy. I know there are staff still here who were involved in some or all of these events which gave me the basis to do more and more "FUN" d raising with Virgin over the following years. Since then our fundraising activities have escalated. This was crystallised in our 21st year since when our staff were involved in London to Brighton Bike Ride, Shark Swim, Mount Fuji, 3 peaks challenge, Golf days, Dragon Boat races, footie tournaments, quiz nights, race nights and Fashion shows amongst others benefiting an array of wonderful charities home and away. we even enabled staff to get down and dirty and help with some of the projects e.g the Branson Entrepreneur school in Johannesburg and the Lawley Garden Project. I know there are many many more wonderful events our staff have been involved in over the years and I think we should be really proud of our achievements.

This really is a company with a conscience and when our staff get given a challenge they rise to it with enthusiasm and passion. I know we have some fundraising to do in our 25th Anniversary year and I am sure we will all support the events planned with the same enthusiasm I experienced back in 1997. This year our main fundraising event will be a Moon Walk in September when you will all be invited to walk the night away in aid of "Free the Children" in India.

Each week we'll be telling you about a magic Virgin Atlantic moment from our 25 years in the skies. If you have a story to tell about how Virgin Atlantic has changed your life for the better and you don't mind us sharing it with everyone else on this website, let us know.