Karl Smith, ESS runs for SSAFA

Compass Group UK & Ireland’s Karl Smith, General Manager, ESS will be running the 2019 London Marathon on Sunday 28th April for company charity partner SSAFA. In 2016 Compass Group UK & Ireland became signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging its commitment to support those from the armed forces community. This includes a pledge to maintain the company’s working relationships and fundraising initiatives with the major force’s charity SSAFA and to continue to support and engage with Service spouses, partners and families by offering flexible employment and career opportunities.

Karl joined the armed forces at 16 years old straight from school, and has since always stayed within a military environment. After nearly 24 years as an army chef, Karl went on to spend 2 ½ years in Afghanistan before taking up a post as General Manager at an army training centre. Karl joined ESS in June last year and has since dedicated his spare time to fundraising for the SSAFA.

Previously Karl has raised significant sums for the Army Benevolent Fund by taking part in marathons and other events such as Wheels on the Western Front in 2016 which was a 6-day 370-mile cycle through the battle fields of WW1.

To date, Karl has raised nearly two-thirds of his £2,000 target for the London Marathon and plans to spend the next month continuing to fund-raise and train before the big day.

Good luck Karl! :)