A team victory in the STR United Challenge has provided an opportunity to support the Armed Forces community in Aberdeen, with Team ESCA choosing SSAFA Grampian as the recipient of a £1,000 donation from STR.
The STR United Challenge brought colleagues from across STR together through a series of challenges and friendly competition, with Team ESCA ultimately taking the win. As part of their prize, James Christie, Regional Director – ESCA, was given the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a £1,000 donation from STR.
For James, SSAFA was a natural choice.
Before joining the subsea industry, James spent more than 12 years serving in the British Army. His military career took him to locations around the world, including service during the First Gulf War and later as part of the United Nations mission in Bosnia.
That experience has given James a lasting appreciation of the challenges that serving personnel, veterans and their families can face, and of the importance of organisations such as SSAFA being there when support is needed.
“Winning the STR United Challenge was great fun and a real team effort, but having the opportunity to turn that success into something that could help others made it even more worthwhile.
“SSAFA was a natural choice for me. I spent more than 12 years in the British Army and served in a number of places around the world, including operational tours during the Gulf War and with the UN in Bosnia. Although that was many years ago, you never really lose that connection with the Armed Forces community.
“I have been fortunate in the years since leaving the Army, but I know that the transition from military life and the challenges that can come afterwards are very different for everyone. The support SSAFA provides to serving personnel, veterans and their families is therefore something I have a great deal of respect for.
“It was a pleasure to visit the Aberdeen branch, hear more about the work being done locally and hand over the £1,000 donation on behalf of STR and Team ESCA.”
James recently returned to Aberdeen after many years working internationally, making the opportunity to visit SSAFA Grampian and present the donation particularly meaningful. During his visit, James learned more about the work being carried out by SSAFA Grampian to support members of the Armed Forces community across the region. Zoe Morrison, Branch Chair for SSAFA Grampian commented:
“It was our pleasure to welcome James to SSAFA Grampian and hear about Team ESCA’s competition win. His recognition of the contribution that service life has made to his career was inspiring, and it is our privilege to receive this donation in support of our local Armed Forces community. A huge thank you to James and everyone at STR.”
The donation brings the STR United Challenge to a positive conclusion, extending the impact of an initiative created to bring colleagues together across the business.
For Team ESCA, the challenge was an opportunity to compete, connect and celebrate a shared achievement. Through James’ choice of charity, that achievement can now also support the Armed Forces community in the place he has recently returned to call home.
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