A team from affordable housing specialist AJC Group has hauled a hefty 4.5 tonne HealthBus along Bournemouth Beach, concluding a week of daily physical challenges.

The AJC Group team have been carrying out these challenges in a bid to raise £10,000 for local charity The HealthBus Trust, which provides essential healthcare and wellbeing to people in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas who are experiencing homelessness.

The 4.5 tonne bus was pushed and pulled using ropes and harnesses by a rotating crew of AJC Group staff, starting in Sandbanks and finishing in Bournemouth 5km down the coast.

The converted ambulance operates three to four days per week by The HealthBus Trust as a mobile clinic and has all the facilities of a medical practitioner’s office.

It provides a safe and non-judgmental GP-led service to vulnerable adults in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district, which has the highest number of rough sleepers outside of London according to government data from 2022.

Collectively, the 35-strong AJC Group has also lifted the equivalent of 500 HealthBuses weighing 4.5 tonnes each, skipped the entire population of Bournemouth at 196,000, and jumped a total of 5,000 HealthBuses at a height of 273 cm each – leaving many with blistered-covered hands.

David Cracklen, Director of AJC Group, said: “At one point, I think we were all unsure if we’d succeed in dragging the HealthBus along the beach, especially after a whole week of punishing physical challenges. We were all feeling broken, before we’d even started!

“But I’m delighted to say we did it – and it feels fantastic knowing we’re raising vital funds to support so many vulnerable people facing homelessness right here in our hometown. This is a charity that’s really close to our heart. Please help us raise our target and donate if you can.”

Deano Pickering, Executive Director at HealthBus Trust, said: “No other company has gone to such monumental efforts as AJC Group – here’s a company that takes their social responsibility seriously and delivers what they set out to achieve.

“It was wonderful to see a large turnout at the beach, raising awareness for our life-saving initiatives. Funds raised by AJC Group will support vital health screenings for diabetes, hepatitis B & C, leg ulcers, and sexual health – all for the growing homeless population in Bournemouth and the surrounding area. Without these funds, our services face closure.”

• To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/ajc-group-1708943589751 or visit www.healthbus.co.uk.

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