Cookes team from one of the main sponsors of the Great Midlands Fun Run were jubilant after getting all three of their floats around the 8.5 mile course after disaster struck when they entered last year.
The team from the Erdington-based store had three specially-designed floats made for the fun run featuring a sofa, bed and dining table and chairs.
Last year marshals pulled the team’s dining table and chairs out of the race when the wheels fell off the float causing sparks to fly up off the road as it was pushed around the course.
This year they were determined to finish and were overjoyed when all the floats, which each featured their own licence plate bearing the name Cookes, reached the finish line.
Around 30 members of staff entered the race including workers at the group’s warehouse in Minworth. James Pike, managing director of Cookes, also took part helping to push the dining table as did the logistics director Andrew Davies.
Vanessa Hoe, marketing director for Cookes Furniture, said: “The dining table got a lot of attention from the crowd, everybody thought it was brilliant. The sofa came first, then the dining table, then the bed. It was great fun.
“It was a really successful day and the weather was lovely. We were all thrilled with how well it went and we will have to wait to see how much money we have raised. We hope it will be a lot and we thank everyone for their support.”
This year Cookes Furniture, in Goosemoor Lane, will be supporting the John Taylor Hospice, in Grange Road, Erdington, by giving a donation in memory of a loyal member of staff.
Cathy Cooper, an office administrator for 15 years, lost her battle with cancer last year. She was a hard-working member of the team and demonstrated her love and dedication for Cookes throughout her time working for the company. The furniture company has sponsored a charity fun run in Sutton Coldfield for the past 24 years and handed out thousands of medals to the fun run participants at the end of the day.