The Octagon ‘Vertical Mile’ raises more than £5,000 for Acorns Children’s Hospice
Paradise Birmingham and its development partners have raised £5,104 for leading local charity, Acorns Children’s Hospice.
During last autumn’s topping out event, fifteen teams from the building’s development, design and construction partners provided more than 80 runners who all raced up the 888 steps to the top of the 155 metre tall, 49 storey skyscraper. The world’s tallest pure octagonal residential tower and Birmingham’s tallest building, The Octagon is due to open to residents later this summer.
As well as raising £5,104 for Acorns, last year’s topping out celebrations were extensively featured on local broadcast, print and online media outlets.
Local architecture practice and designers of The Octagon, Howells, swept the board with the fastest team, fastest female with Evie Richardson who came in with a time of 7 minutes and 12 seconds, and fastest male, Jamie Parish, who completed the climb in 5 minutes and 7 seconds.
Every entrant in this unique event completed the challenge, with all 80 runners reaching the top of the building safely.
City Developments Ltd, Midgard, MEPC, Howells, Turley, Arup, Quantem, JRL Ark, SOM, OFR, Design MEP, Thompson AV, D Line, Spray Plaster Specialists Ltd and Flick Lighting all contributed to the final amount as well as individual donations made during the event.
Andy Bushell, development manager at Paradise developer and asset manager MEPC, said:
“The Vertical Mile was a highly successful part of last year’s ‘topping out’ that not only allowed many teams to run to the top of Birmingham’s tallest building, but also raised more than £5,000 for Acorns in the process. The cash will help Acorns to continue providing its brilliant services across the West Midlands region that helps many hundreds of local families every year.”
Neil McGinty, development director of City Developments Ltd, owner of The Octagon, added:
“Acorns is a great recipient for our Vertical Mile charity event and I am very pleased to help pass on the money to them today. I know Acorns is a great local organisation running a much-needed service for families across Birmingham and the West Midlands and everyone involved in The Octagon is proud to support them.”
Vicki Rowles, Director of Fundraising at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said:
“This incredible challenge has really taken fundraising for Acorns to new heights. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who took part in this historic event – every penny raised will go direct towards our lifeline care for seriously ill children across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Not only has the event helped ensure we can be there for families when they need us most, it has highlighted the towering challenges that families caring for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions face every day. But with the help of supporters like Paradise Birmingham and its development partners, we can make sure families never face those challenges alone. From everyone at Acorns, thank you!
The Octagon is a stunning new addition to the city’s skyline. Backed by global real estate investor, City Developments Ltd of Singapore (CDL), the construction of the £110 million project was undertaken by high-rise construction specialist Midgard, part of the JRL Group, and has been designed by the team at Birmingham-based architects Howells.
The Octagon is being managed by Allsop Lettings and Management and will welcome its first residents at the end of this summer.
The building is an integral part of the wider Paradise estate being brought forward by development and asset manager MEPC, which is delivering 8 new buildings and three new public squares as well as new pedestrian connections and thousands of new jobs for people from across the region, in the very heart of Birmingham.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides vital care and support for hundreds of babies, children and families across the West Midlands, from its three hospices based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester and in homes across the region. Acorns needs around £35,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Paradise sits in the country’s largest city centre Enterprise Zone and has benefited from investment in enabling and infrastructure works. Paradise has already completed phase one of the development with One & Two Chamberlain Square and the reopening of the square itself, together with the completion of One Centenary Way and the imminent completion of Three Chamberlain Square.
There are already 6,000 people working at Paradise which is home to a wide range of office occupiers as well as a growing roster of leisure operators which already includes Dishoom, Albert’s Schloss, Rosa’s Thai, F1®Arcade, Yorks Café, La Bellezza and Cow & Sow.