Supporters’ fundraising stories

Corporate challengers!

Our local business community does love a challenge and in 2024 they didn’t disappoint. Not only did staff raise thousands of pounds for Katharine House, they also pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, worked together as a team and ticked something off that bucket list!

Our local business community does love a challenge and in 2024 they didn’t disappoint

Not only did staff raise thousands of pounds for Katharine House, they also pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, worked together as a team and ticked something off that bucket list!

In February, GRAF UK took on their biggest challenge yet and undertook a 24-hour rowing challenge. The team covered a staggering 344 miles on three rowing machines, which is the equivalent of a journey from their Glasgow Branch to their head office in Banbury. The team set up the challenge as part of the Accumulator Challenge and raised over £10,000 for the hospice. This year they have an even bigger challenge planned to raise vital funds for Katharine House.

In the spring, Walraven and Silbury took on two big challenges to support their local hospice. Adam, James and Richard from Walraven put their stamina to the test when they took part in the Banbury Triathlon. The one-day event saw the team of three undertake swimming, cycling and running as part of the challenge and their efforts raised nearly £900!

Silbury also took part in the Samworth Challenge for the second time, with a team of eight undertaking a gruelling ten-hour endurance challenge in the Lake District. Staff from the Banbury-based office started the challenge at the crack of dawn and had to navigate their way across the course through hiking, kayaking and cycling, but they were delighted after they raised over £4,000 for the hospice.

Pedalling fast

The team at Silbury enjoyed the cycling part of the challenge so much that they have now signed up a team of nine to take part in the Katharine House London to Paris cycle challenge in September 2025. The three-day challenge, which is now sold out, will see more than 40 people cycling 186 miles from Tower Bridge in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris! Team members from HELLA will also be taking part as well as Chris from Handelsbanken in Banbury.

Chris has had plenty of practice when it comes to cycling challenges, as he took part in the Broughton Castle Sportive in the summer of 2024. Chris and his wife joined hundreds of fellow cyclists in July and cycled the 75 miles course. They sadly endured the typical wet British summer, but it wasn’t all bad, they raised over £650 for the hospice.

Two cyclists smiling outdoors, wearing helmets and jackets, with a stone building in the background.

Bungee Jump at the Bloxham Steam Rally

Also that summer, Katharine House held its first Bungee Jump at Bloxham Steam Rally and it was the battle of the pubs as we saw teams from the Horse and Jockey (Bodicote), the Dirt House and the Pepperpot take part. And, of course, our challenge champions were there, Higham Critchley Barrows, which saw Pete Critchley take on his scariest challenge for the hospice so far. The event was a huge success and everyone who took part loved it, plus they raised over £21,000!

Walking up that hill

Throughout 2024, one of the most popular challenges was hiking up Snowdon! We had teams from SE Solicitors, Whitley Stimpson, BRITA, Hook Norton Vets and CMS Wealth. Some set up their own challenges, while others joined the Katharine House Snowdon Sunrise Challenge (now booking for 2026!), where a group of over 35 people trekked up Snowdon in the early hours of the morning to reach the summit before dawn. All the teams that took part definitely found it a challenge, but they also found it rewarding and they all experienced very different weather; rain, fog, snow, wind and sunshine!

Running the extra mile

Many of our corporate supporters love a running challenge, with many taking part in the Oxford Half Marathon over the years but in 2024, Ryan from CMS Wealth and Mike from Tapper Interiors ran the extra mile. In May, Ryan ran an ultra-marathon in Wales and later that year, Mike took part in the Spirit Triathlon in Compton Verney, the two of them raising over £2,800 between them!

Get involved!

So do you think you have what it takes to get involved with a challenge in 2025 and support your local hospice? You can do it as an individual or as part of a team. At Katharine House we have a variety of events and challenges lined up this year or maybe you fancy doing your own challenge, like a Wolf Run or Ultra Marathon. If you want to find out more, get in touch and email [email protected] and the fundraising team will be happy to have a chat with you.