Supporters’ fundraising stories

Cleenol support through three generations

Cleenol’s association with Katharine House Hospice dates back to its foundation. They have been long-term supporters of the hospice, spanning over three generations.

Cleenol’s association with Katharine House Hospice dates back to its foundation. They have been long-term supporters of the hospice, spanning over three generations.

Sam Greaves, Managing Director at Cleenol explains, “My grandfather Ken Greaves was Katharine’s headmaster and a friend of her father, Neil Gadsby. Ken read at Katharine’s funeral and helped Neil in the acquisition of the land on which the hospice was built. My father, Richard, and predecessor as Managing Director of Cleenol, was a trustee for over 15 years and took over as chair of the hospice when Neil retired.”

Cleenol as a business are very passionate and committed to supporting the local community and by supporting the community, they, in turn, support both their staff and clients.

They donate a huge amount of cleaning supplies to the hospice, absolutely free of charge, saving the hospice over £5,000 every year. They have been regular sponsors of our Christmas cards and are proud sponsors of the End-of-life and Palliative Care (EPiC) Resource Centre. And it’s not just the company that are committed to the hospice, the staff regularly support the hospice through employee fundraising and event participation.

Head of Fundraising, Steph Lawless said: “The hospice simply would not exist without the support from local businesses, like Cleenol. Indeed, Cleenol provide more than just support, they are a partnership with the hospice providing gifts in kind, sponsorship and fundraising. They are a company that share the same values as the hospice, which is why we work so well together and we are proud to be partnered with them.”

Looking to the future

Sam visited the hospice for the first time in 2022 and he was inspired by the work being carried out by the dedicated and hard-working team. He pledged to continue supporting the hospice, following in the steps of his grandfather and father.

“It was a lovely experience to get to walk around the hospice and see the staff with smiles on their faces. Thank you Katharine House Hospice for all the incredible work you do. We will continue to support you for many more years to come.”

The family run firm, which is based in Banbury, is recognised as one of the UK’s leading innovators, manufacturers and suppliers of quality cleaning and hygiene products and, in 2023, celebrated its 75th year in business.

As part of Cleenol’s 75th-birthday celebrations, they launched Project 75, which challenged the business and staff to raise £75,000 for three local charities, including Katharine House.

Sam and the Cleenol team worked incredibly hard over the two years, taking on skydives, a Three Peaks challenge, running challenges and hosting a variety of events, including a comedy night, drive-thru cinema and a golf day. In March 2025, they completed their mission and the Katharine House team received a cheque for £25,000 at Cleenol HQ, presented by Dame Prue Leith. Project 75 is testament to how a group of people, who work together, can make a real difference in a community and achieve their goals.

A group of people standing outside holding a large presentation check for charity.

Thank you Cleenol!

All the staff at Katharine House Hospice are overwhelmed by the dedicated support that Cleenol and its staff give to the hospice and are extremely grateful for everything they do. We look forward to working with the team for years to come.