Connect encourages industry to get involved in Veganuary

Liz Syms, chief executive of Connect for Intermediaries, turned vegan almost three years ago.

Connect encourages industry to get involved in Veganuary

Connect for Intermediaries has launched the Veganuary Workplace Challenge to encourage both companies and individuals in the mortgage industry to try going vegan in January.

Connect chief executive Liz Syms turned vegan almost three years’ ago after watching a documentary called 'What the Health'.

Syms (pictured) is now on a drive to encourage more of the mortgage industry to go vegan for a month.

This is by supporting Veganuary which is run by a not-for-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try a vegan diet for January and beyond.

Liz Syms, chief executive of Connect for Intermediaries, said: “Since following a vegan diet I have felt healthier and fitter.

“It made perfect sense when I discovered that vegans live, on average, eight years longer than omnivores and a vegan diet lowers your BMI, increases energy and cuts the risk of developing dozens of diseases.

“I have also come to understand more about the benefits plant-based eating has for animal welfare and the environment.

“Eating animals is the largest contributing factor in habitat loss and extinction with millions of acres of forest felled each year to make way for livestock production.

“Veganuary is, therefore, the perfect time to help my friends and colleagues in the mortgage industry who are ‘vegan curious’ to try out a vegan diet to see how much better they feel and raise money for charity at the same time.”

Connect are encouraging the industry to join either as a fundraiser participating in Veganuary, or as a sponsor to motivate the existing fundraisers.

Everyone interested who registers will then receive support emails from Syms every day throughout January, with recipes and answers to commonly asked questions.

In order to raise money for charity at the same time, Connect has set up a Virgin Money giving page.

Any money pledged will be divided between three causes; the charity Veganuary, WWF and Cancer Research UK.

Everybody pledging money will also have the option to be included in the daily Veganuary updates.

Everyone who signs up for the Veganuary challenge will also receive deals on vegan meals at a number of high street chains.