The Fergusson Coal Group are have again received the McCloskey Coal UK award for Solid Fuel Wholesaler Of The Year 2011.

The awards recognise the success and progress made by businesses that supply sized coal to the industrial and domestic markets.

Fergusson Group have sponored local football team Stirling City under 10's and Adult team (see photograph). The sponsorship includes Fergusson Group supplying full team strips and features company name and logo on the front of all shirts. As part of our on going commitment to supporting local communities, the company has also sponsored and supplied team kit for Stirling Albion and Kingshorn St Leonards Clubs. Good luck to all teams for the season ahead.

Four Stirling women swapped the comfort of the office for the rain and wind of the Trossachs to raise almost £1,400 for charity. Christina Hart, 37, Amy Dickson, 24, Diane Nicolson, 39 and Trisha Bates, 31, all work for Stirling-based Fergusson Group and decided to enter the Trossachs Plod – the ultimate team walking challenge.

Leaving the Dounans Outdoor Centre in Aberfoyle at midnight on Friday September 2, it took the team more than 15 hours to walk the 50km course, over tough forrest terrain. The group battled constant rain, wind, mud, the darkness, blisters and a sprained ankle during their quest to complete the course to raise vital funds for Action Medical Research, a charity that is dedicated to helping children and babies. They finally crossed the finish line at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Christina said:

“We thought it would be a challenge and we would be doing something for a good cause at the same time so we all pulled together and started training for it. We went and did a dry run so we knew it was going to be hard.”

However nothing prepared the team for the tough conditions the Trossachs threw at them.

Christina said:

“It rained the full time, for the first 12 hours it didn’t stop so we were soaked to the skin but the adrenaline kicked in and there were other teams about which kept us going. The Mountain Rescue Team were just brilliant, if it wasn’t for them I don’t think we would have got very far. We are quite chuffed with ourselves. It was an achievement and there was bubbly at the finish line and everyone was clapping.”

The women came in 14th equal out of the 29 teams who entered the event, raising £1,382.

The team’s employer, Fergusson Group, supplied walking equipment and also donated £250 to the fundraising total. Joint managing director, Alan Fergusson, said:

“Everyone at Fergusson Group is very proud of Christina, Amy, Diane and Trisha who overcame horrendous conditions to complete the challenge. We have therefore been delighted to support their efforts in raising a terrific amount of money for a charity which helps to make a difference to the lives of children and babies.”

The team would like to thanks Scotdirect who donated walking boots and jackets. Fergusson Group is a Scottish-based solid fuel import, export and distribution business that supplies coal-based products to the domestic market and a cross section of specialist industries throughout the UK and mainland Europe.