Remembering a colleague and friend with our annual charity fundraiser

As many of you know, LGIM’s Asset Allocation team is a close-knit bunch.

We cherish our diverse culture and shared values as they are crucial for efficient decision making, and these qualities have been cornerstones of our success. Having close working relationships is also important because we spend loads of time together on the job, either virtually or increasingly in the office again.

We therefore often refer to one another as the ‘AA family’. It’s a family like any other: we often disagree, we discuss and, dare I say, we bicker. But we also celebrate and party together, and down the line we support each other in tough times – that’s what’s family is for.

Part of our teamwork is an annual charity fund raiser. This year we will raise money in memory of our friend and colleague Andy Ridgers. Andy sadly passed away on Tuesday 13 September this year. His death came as a shock to his family, friends and to his AA family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who loved Andy.  

We would like to describe Andy with a famous poem written by Mary Elizabeth Frye in the 1930s:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Three words and qualities we will remember Andy by:

• Gentle
• Uplifting
• Soft

His manner was gentle, his spirits uplifting and his tone was soft. We will forever miss his gentle beat.

Andy’s preferred charity was Mind. This great charity provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. So our choice of charity was easy this year.

Please visit our JustGiving page to donate to Mind.

For the fundraising video, which I highly recommend, the AA team decided to challenge the UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh.

Lewis has successfully completed a 123km swim across the Red Sea to raise awareness of the oceans and COP27. LGIM partners with Lewis to tackle the climate challenge, as we seek to help companies limit their carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 under our Climate Impact Pledge. We believe inaction is not an option, and are proud to support Lewis’s efforts to raise awareness and push for positive change.

Lewis Pugh with members of the Asset Allocation team

The AA team hopes to beat Lewis in a swim-off. By Christmas the team will swim more than 123km, so more than Lewis has done!

Some of our swimming miles were done in ice-cold water, and the video shows how AA team members braved the 7°C water to get some laps done. Ice water swimming is supposed to be good for you, including your mental health, but all I remember is that it was very, very cold!

We hope you enjoy our short video and hope you’ll donate to a great cause.