Twenty teams participated in Race for Change, with the event raising a total of £60,000.

Three Builders Merchants Federation employees came together to raise almost £8,400 for charity after taking part in Race for Change, a unique fundraising challenge created by Bristan and inspired by the Race Across the World.

The money will be shared equally between the event's nominated charity, The Cycle, which works to advance gender equality, improve water security and build climate resilience, and the BMF's Charity of the Year, TEFT, which supports the education of marginalised children at the Kisima School in Kenya.

BMF's team of Oz Bham, Supplier Engagement Director, Marianna Peet, Learning & Development and Apprenticeship Manager, and Andrei Imbru, Industry Analyst/Economist, was one of 20 from across the building materials industry flown to Budapest before racing across Europe to reach Wiesbaden in Germany and then return to the Bristan stand at the InstallerSHOW in Birmingham.

Like the BBC programme, teams travelled on a limited budget and without mobile phones, relying on public transport and the kindness of local people while completing a series of challenges designed to raise awareness of water scarcity, inclusion and diversity.

Commenting on the experience, Andrei Imbru, said: "One of the most memorable aspects of the challenge was the generosity of complete strangers. Without mobile phones, we relied on local people for directions and advice, and as soon as we explained what we were doing, they were eager to help. It felt as though they became part of the adventure themselves, making a small but meaningful contribution to our journey."

Peet added: "Taking part was an incredibly rewarding experience that challenged me both personally and professionally. Despite unfamiliar countries, limited sleep, extreme heat and tight budgets, our team stayed focused on raising awareness of important causes that often go unnoticed. I'm incredibly proud that our resilience and teamwork helped us raise almost £8,400 – the highest fundraising total of any team taking part."

And Bham concluded: "Race for Change was about much more than racing across Europe. It brought our industry together in support of two fantastic causes while testing our teamwork, resilience and determination. The generosity we experienced along the way was truly inspiring, and we'd like to thank everyone who supported us and donated to this fantastic fundraising challenge."

The Race for Change event raised a grand total of £60,000 for charity.