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Nearly £100k raised for Hospice during Christmas period
18/01/2023
The RC Baker Christmas Tractor Run and Santa Fun Run were key events
Local people dug deep and supported the Katharine House Hospice to the tune of almost £100,000 during the Christmas period. Despite fears the cost-of-living crisis might affect the hospice’s vital fund raising income stream, supporters helped to ensure patients with life-limiting illnesses continue to receive the care they need.
The popular RC Baker Tractor Run attracted thousands of people to the streets and raised £27,462.65 – a total which is still increasing.
The hospice’s flagship Santa Fun Run saw 400 people of all ages donning a Santa suit and running around Spiceball Park at the start of December, so far raising a further £27k. Almost 10,000 pupils from local schools contributed an extra £4,000 at their own Santa runs.
Supporter’s donations brought in £32,495 and another £3,294 was raised through the hospice’s Christmas tree recycle scheme.
Jennie Steenkamp from RC Baker Ltd, which runs the Tractor Run every year, said the company had been fundraising for Katharine House ever since her grandfather Ray Marcham spent his final days at the hospice in the January of 2004.
She said: “We have always chosen Katharine House when we have done any fundraising because of the amazing care they gave to Ray. I never anticipated that this event would be such a huge fundraiser and I couldn’t be happier that it has turned into such a massive success.
“Looking back to that first event in 2016, it has grown beyond what I could ever have imagined. To think that we now have to limit the number of tractors on the run and that we’ve raised £97,000 over the years is just unbelievable.”
Head of fundraising for Katharine House Stephanie Lawless said: “Our supporters are always incredibly generous, but we know that times are hard at the moment, and were concerned that people wouldn’t be able to support us in the same way. We are absolutely delighted to have raised so much and feel so grateful to our community for standing by us.
“The future is uncertain. We don’t know how much the cost of living crisis and various other factors are going to affect our fundraising in the future. But our busy team will continue to initiate and organise a range of diverse events which will hopefully appeal to a wide audience. Here’s to an exciting 2023!”
More information on the events and initiatives Katharine House has planned this year is available here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam