Morecambe based charity challenge firm goes bust

A Morecambe based firm that organises and facilitates charity challenges across the UK has gone into administration.

Pure Challenge Ltd, based at the Northgate Business Centre on the White Lund Industrial Estate, ceased trading just a day before it was due to run an event in Scotland for around 700 people.

The company sent out an email to participants of a 34 mile trek called The 3 Lochs Way, saying it had ceased trading and gone into administration with immediate effect.

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It is understood many of the entrants were already on their way to the event before they heard that it was cancelled.

A number of changes were made to the company’s details on Companies House – including a change of the business’ registered address, termination of appointments, and the cessation of individuals with significant control – in the run up to the announcement.

The business is still registered to managing director Mark Webster, with a previous address in Bolton-le-Sands.

Several people have contacted the Lancaster Guardian to say they paid for the event, but have been unable to recoup their money and have not been able to get through to the company.

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An email sent out to entrants on Friday April 7, read: “The Pure Challenge staff and higher management have been in meetings all throughout yesterday and through the night.

“It is with deep regret that this morning the situation everyone has been trying to avoid has unfortunately happened.

“Pure Challenge with immediate effect has ceased trading and gone into administration.

“Everyone has worked tirelessly in an attempt to avoid this from happening, unfortunately this morning the decision has been taken out of our hands.

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“Pure Challenge as of immediate effect is no longer trading, the events that are planned for this weekend and the end of the month are now cancelled.

“All participants will be contacted over the coming weeks in terms of refunds for their entry fee’s that have been paid.

“We as a company who have grown together, learned together and have had massive ups as well as downs are absolutely devastated by the outcome.

“This email account nor our office will any longer be manned.

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“Please await contact from our administrators in due course.

“We do not recommend anyone undertakes the routes we had planned on their own as a matter of safety.”

One entrant to the challenge, who did not wish to be named, said: “They are still offering tickets to future events on their website even though they are not likely to happen.

“Many thousands of pounds in ticket sales will have been received but with little expenditure where has the money gone?

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“Interestingly, many of the entrants who were let down are going ahead and doing the event tomorrow without the official organisation and support from Pure Challenge.

“A true ‘Dunkirk spirit’ has meant they’ve rallied round and got on with it.”

The Lancaster Guardian has been unable to contact anyone at Pure Challenge Ltd for comment.