Cookham-based ACI Group completes 2,119km global fitness challenge and brings the initiative home with a local tree-planting legacy

Launched on 19 August 2025, the initiative formed part of ACI Group’s wider Fitness Challenge, in which 20 employees took part in The Conqueror Virtual Challenges. Combining walking and running with a purpose-led framework, the programme connected personal wellbeing with measurable environmental impact.

Participants were organised into four teams of five, each completing the equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef virtual route. Collectively, each team covered 2,119km, contributing to a total organisational distance of 8,476km (5,268 miles). All teams completed the challenge ahead of the final deadline on 30 March 2026, reflecting sustained commitment and momentum across the business over the past six months.

Individual contributions varied significantly, with several employees completing between 782km and 1,115km each, underscoring the depth of engagement and consistency sustained throughout the programme.

Beyond the physical achievement, the challenge also generated environmental impact by planting 100 trees globally through Veritree, extending the initiative’s footprint beyond the organisation. Building on this global impact, ACI Group translated collective performance into a tangible local legacy in Cookham, with 20 trees now planted across two community sites.

The planting took place at Cookham Cemetery and the 1st Cookham Scout Hut, with ten trees at each location. Each tree represents one participating employee, creating a visible, living link between individual effort and shared achievement.

The initiative brought colleagues together to complete the final stage of the programme, accompanied by informal celebrations recognising completion of the Great Barrier Reef virtual route and the awarding of medals to participants.

Greg Holgate, Pharma Business Development Manager at ACI Group, said: “The challenge created a real sense of energy across the business. It was not only about fitness, but about how people supported one another over a sustained period. Completing it ahead of schedule was an achievement in itself, but the most meaningful outcome was turning that shared effort into something tangible for our local community in Cookham.” 

The initiative reflects ACI Group’s broader sustainability approach, connecting global participation with local action and turning internal engagement into a visible, long-term community benefit.