21 years of fundraising marks £100k milestone raised for Oxford Children’s Hospital
A very special afternoon was held by the Oxford Children’s Hospital on Wednesday to say “thank you” to Andy celebrating our recent milestone in hitting the magic £100,000 lifetime amount raised for the hospital across his twenty one dedicated years of tireless fundraising.
Awash with special balloons and a specially made £100k banner and with a buzz of media all around, we really was celebrated and made a real fuss of no end.
We was even toasted afterwards with drinks at the nearby pub, as raising over £100,000 over two decades is no mean feat, but we have smashed it all the way with constant motivation, energy and commitment and that appreciation was shown in abundance on Wednesday, by the overwhelming love and thank you from the hospital that means so much to us, but no more than Andy.
From Andy’s first £1,000 raised whilst aged 14 as a pupil at St Birinus School in Didcot in February 2003 to the £100,095 plus recently hit following our latest team’s participation in this year’s OX5 Run, it has been an incredible two decades of giving to the Children’s Hospital with no pause, just constant, relentless dedication, passion and determination.
Funds raised from teams in the OX5 fun run to gala balls, football tournaments, Summer fun days, talent shows, charity nights, supermarket collections, festive markets, sponsored walks, chilli-eating contests, individuals abseiling, walking, taking on marathons, head shaves, skydives and more to danceathons and quiz nights, soaks and splats in the stocks for Superheroes, and so much more, there really has been so much done and held to raise this lifetime total.
From the early years of funds raised by Andy at school helping to fund the build of the bricks and mortar of the hospital that stands today, our £100,000 really has made an enormous and long-lasting impact, and legacy.
Changing, transforming, and saving lives is what we strive by to do every day and we literally have been doing just this for the young patients, families and staff who benefit from our incredible work and efforts every day.
Over the past 21 years besides helping to fund the building in the early days, we have also helped to fund our very own named patient room at £40k on the teenage ward, toys games and artwork, to funding top of the range medical equipment, the impact of our work has made an enormous difference across the hospital.
For Andy the £100k celebration was extra special, as the hospital kept him alive twice over – once at birth after being born with an acquired brain injury and again aged 12 with brain surgery, as without the incredible medical teams he wouldn’t be here today.
The occasion was really poignant and fitting as the momentous “thank you” was held on level one – the floor of Robin’s Ward, the children’s specialist surgery ward which was once formerly Leopold Ward back in the days of the old RI where Andy had his brain surgery, and for Dale Harris who spent much of his daughter, Mya, now 20’s life, on Robin’s for her countless number of operations and procedures for her Spina Bifida which she was born with.
Dale was involved in the first decade of our live, helping to organise football tournaments and more, and today he continues to support our charity through his very own Oxford company, Blue Blood Sports for which he is a co-director.
So many volunteers, so many supporters, sponsors and so many more have been a huge part of this incredible success story, and we salute them all and our wonderful community for making this landmark and special total possible.
So this Friday we say a great “big thank you”, please give lots of cheers as we are immensely proud of this amazing achievement and it is all thanks to everyone for getting behind our little charity with the biggest heart with the most passionate, dedicated and inspired volunteers who go above and beyond all year round.
