It’s a Choc-Out!

City corporates to tackle giant inflatable for chocolate and charity.

A leading Birmingham hospice is challenging businesses to take on a giant inflatable obstacle in the heart of Brindleyplace next month – and all in the name of chocolate and charity.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is calling on professionals to join It’s a Choc-Out, in which opponents will be based in a giant inflatable pit and will have to race to the middle to collect as many chocolatey goodies as possible.

The challenge comes with a tasty twist however, as city workers will be attached to bungee ropes which will pull them back, making it harder for them to reach the sweet treats.

Taking place at Chocival– the city’s first chocolate-themed festival – It’s a Choc-Out is inspired by the popular board game Hungry Hippos and is a corporate challenge like no other.

Four employees from commercial property management company, GVA, have already signed up for the race after being nominated by one of the company’s bosses.

Carl Potter, who was recently promoted to national head of office at the firm, is getting revenge on the team after they nominated him to be gunged in chocolate last year, at a previous Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice event.

He said: “Last year, I got gunged from head-to-toe in chocolate after my team put me forward for the Hospice’s Chocolate Gunge Tank. This year, I decided to get my own back by nominating the same employees for this fantastic, inflatable challenge. I have no doubt that my staff and I will have a lot of laughs at It’s a Choc-Out. It’s a great way to get the team together and have some fun, whilst also raising much-needed funds for a brilliant Birmingham charity.”

All sponsorship money raised from the event will go towards Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice – one of Brindleyplace’s charity partners – which provides vital care to local people living with life-limiting illness.

Charlotte Anson, corporate partnerships manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “Revenge has definitely been sweet for Carl but I know his team are really looking forward to taking on our new, chocolatey challenge. “I encourage other corporates from across the city to take part in It’s a Choc-Out. Determination, concentration and resilience are all needed to be crowned the winner, so it’s a great team building exercise whilst also showing support for a local hospice.”

It will cost £8 million to run the Hospice’s crucial services this year, over 60 per cent of which needs to come from generous voluntary donations.

It’s a Choc-Out will be at Brindleyplace’s Chocival on Friday 19th October, from 12pm to 6pm. A team ticket for four people costs £30 and teams are advised to raise £300 in sponsorship.

If you would like to sign up a team, visit here