Oaktober: fundraising for Oakhaven in October
Oakhaven Hospice is delighted to announce that its ‘OAKtober’ challenge raised £19,550.
‘OAKtober’ was a month-long challenge for everyone in the New Forest, Waterside and Totton communities, to raise much-needed funds for Oakhaven Hospice during October. Numerous individuals, groups, businesses and schools took part, doing ‘something different’ for the whole month.
A number of local nurseries and schools took part in the dressing up ‘Wear It Green’ day on Friday 20th October and Lymington Junior School held a cake sale to support Oakhaven.
Groups and families also got involved to do something for Oaktober, including the Thomas family, who set themselves an epic challenge of running 500km in Oaktober. They completed it in only 25 days, raising an excellent £1,045.
After participating in Oakhaven’s Acorn Project, where he spent time with patients and volunteers, schoolboy Wilf Smith decided to take on the Kent Classic 47km cycle ride to help and thank the hospice, raising over £600.
Businesses supported the Oaktober fundraising month in a variety of fun and original ways, including a ‘Come Dine with Me’ event at Clayhill House B&B, a 24-hour Dance-a-thon at Mornington Court Cinnamon Care Home and a special ‘Oak-Thai-ber’ menu at Lanes of Lymington.
Sharp Hair of Lymington raised a whopping £1,145 during Oaktober. Salon owner, Angela Griffiths, said; “It’s our 15th year of business in Lymington, and each year we support a charity, so we decided on a manageable challenge for the amazing OAKtober event. We pledged to cycle, run and walk 110 miles and complete 4650 squats. We added this into our busy salon and home lives. It was a 15-20 minute challenge over 31 days, anyone can do it, just find your thing and commit! We smashed it by completing 133 miles!”
Oakhaven’s Community Fundraising Manager, Jill West, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part in our Oaktober fundraising month. We were delighted to hear about the challenges taken on by individuals, families, schools, groups and businesses throughout our catchment area - and beyond. One family sent us a photo of them ‘Wearing It Green’ in Australia!
“Whether donating loose change in ‘Oaktober change pots’, dressing up in green for our Wear It Green day, holding a cake sale or taking on a challenge, every donation will help Oakhaven to support patients and their loved ones.”
To donate please visit oakhavenhospice.co.uk/how-to-donate
All funds raised will help Oakhaven Hospice support local people throughout the New Forest, Totton and Waterside areas at the most difficult of times. Did you know that as well as the ten beds in the Inpatient Unit, Oakhaven helps patients with life-limiting illnesses in their own homes - around 300 at any time? Last year Oakhaven cared for 1,394 patients and their families and loved ones, with around 3,200 visiting the Coates Centre to benefit from wellbeing support.
If you know someone affected by a life-limiting illness, who is a carer, or who is living with a loss, support is available at the Coates Centre. Visit oakhavenhospice.co.uk/wellbeing for more information.
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