Oz-themed ball raises £145K for CHAS, & other event news
Melanie May | 29 June 2022 | News
CHAS’s ball saw people dress up as Wizard of Oz characters, while for St Giles Hospice’s Enchanted Solstice Walk, unicorns were among those raising funds for the charity. All this, and more fundraising event news below.
Pedalling for Pubs raises £247,000 for hospitality charities
This year, fundraising initiative Pedalling for Pubs, powered by KAM, raised £274k for leading hospitality charities; Licenced Trade Charity and Only a Pavement Away, smashing its fundraising target. Created in recognition and support of disadvantaged people from around the pub, brewery and wider hospitality sectors, Pedalling for Pubs saw 26 riders from the brewing, pub and hospitality sector ride 335km across Jordan in March, battling desert terrain and riding through hail, rain, strong winds and desert sun. While they were in Jordan, teams across the UK took part in Pedalling for Pubs UK 2022 collectively riding over 8,000km fundraising as they went.
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Rocking Horse Ball raises £145,000 for CHAS
A wizardly £145,000 has been raised for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) following its Oz-themed 2022 Rocking Horse Ball in Edinburgh. The fun-filled extravaganza was hosted by popular Scottish comedian and broadcaster, Fred MacAulay at Prestonfield House. It also saw Edinburgh singer-songwriter Callum Beattie (pictured with Wizard of Oz characters) make a special appearance, singing his hit song ‘Salamander Street’ live on stage. In an auction, one lucky bidder won a private party with the rising star, while other top auction prizes included fine dining experiences and luxury breaks to the Amalfi Coast, Valencia and Portugal and an exclusive painting by leading Scottish painter Jack Morocco which reached £15,500. The event was sponsored by law firm Thorntons, and took place in CHAS’s 30th anniversary year which was marked by an opener game featuring 80s and 90s songs and a giant game of Pass the Parcel, sponsored by Nest Marketing.
London Triathlon returns on 7 August with GOSH Charity as official partner
The London Triathlon returns this year on 7 August. Participants can support a host of charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) which is this year’s official headline charity partner. Setting off from East London’s ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, the urban route gives participants the chance to swim, bike and run past London’s world-famous landmarks.
St Giles Hospice Enchanted Solstice Walk sees over 600 participants
A magical last-minute change in the weather turned the St Giles Hospice Enchanted Solstice Walk into a special night to remember for hundreds of fairies, elves and wizards on Saturday 18 June. After a day of continuous heavy downpours, the charity’s fundraisers assembled in Lichfield, bracing themselves for a thorough soaking. But just as the moment arrived to set off on the walk the rain stopped and the clouds parted to reveal a stunning double rainbow which faded from view as the last participants crossed the finish line. The walkers were also treated to a striking brilliant sunset which bathed the historic city in a golden glow as they passed through the streets on their 10k stroll. More than 600 people joined the event, which returned to the city for the first time since 2019.
St Oswald’s Hospice art trail to return in 2023
The North East’s St Oswald’s Hospice art trail fundraiser will be back for summer 2023.The art trail initiative is in support of North East charity’s work – providing specialist care for adults, young people and children with incurable conditions, and support for family and loved ones. At the centre of the 2023 art trail will be Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep. Next summer 50 unique Shaun the Sheep sculptures will be dotted around the Tyne region to attract people to the area – with each Shaun sculpture then being auctioned off to raise money for the hospice. One of these will be created by Newcastle-headquartered tech consultancy Opencast.
NHS Big Tea takes place in July
People across the country will be taking part in NHS Charities Together’s NHS Big Tea in July by hosting a tea party to raise funds to support NHS staff, patients, and volunteers. The big day is 5 July in celebration of the NHS’s birthday, but tea parties can be held on a day to suit. This year’s event is aiming to support 1.5mn NHS staff and volunteers. Last year, it raised enough to support over six hundred projects across the UK.
Golf Day raises £9750 for World Child Cancer
More than 90 golfers took to the fairway at Sittingbourne and Regis Milton Golf Club earlier this month for the annual mhs homes charity golf day, in aid of World Child Cancer. Local businesses and partners supported the event by sponsoring competitions, including Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and Beat the Pro. Non-golfers also gave their support, including mhs homes’ Assistant Director of Asset Management, Barry Waller who raffled himself off as a caddy. A dinner followed, following which participants took part in a fundraising raffle with a range of prizes donated by companies including Copper Rivet Distillery, Historic Dockyard, Chatham and Playopolis Board Game Café. £9750 was raised for the charity with part of the funding to be matched through the UK Aid Match Appeal for its It Takes A Village To Save A Child.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.