The Children’s Hospital Charity have been a pillar of support to children and families across Sheffield for many years, raising vital funds to provide life-saving equipment, perform crucial research and create a comfortable and engaging hospital environment built with children in mind. Phoebe Marriott, Events Fundraising Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, tells Exposed about some of the valiant fundraising efforts from the past 12 months, and details ways in which you can get involved with the charity in 2024.
Throughout 2023, we had hundreds of people from across the country take on challenges to raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s. Of those, we had countless inspiring stories shared with us by our fundraisers. As an Events Fundraising Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, it’s always amazing to meet people who want to give back as a personal thanks for providing care to their loved ones. From running through our beloved city at the Sheffield 10K to trekking over 25 miles over the Yorkshire Three Peaks, I’m always blown away by the commitment of our supporters.
It’s always amazing to meet people who want to give back as a personal thanks for providing care to their loved ones.
Skydive
And nothing says commitment more than jumping 15,000ft from the sky! Our exhilarating skydives will make a comeback in 2024, with events taking place in July and September. This jump is the highest tandem skydive in the UK and the views across the Yorkshire countryside are just incredible. Having completed it myself last year, it was an unforgettable experience and a great way to support Sheffield Children’s. You can sign up yourself at tchc.org.uk/Skydive.
Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge
I’ve been privileged enough to meet some of the bravest people I’ve ever come across in children who are battling illnesses at Sheffield Children’s. When speaking with their parents, I’ve found that the people who you turn to in times of difficulty are often those who rally together in giving back to Sheffield Children’s.
Six-year-old Esmée was treated on Sheffield Children’s Intensive Care Unit as her kidneys failed in December 2022. Having received a phone call from her school as she was unwell, the last place Esmée’s parents expected her to be less than a week later was in a hospital bed. Soon after, Esmée was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition and is now thriving on her lifesaving medication.
Team Esmee completing their Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, raising over £10,000
Family and friends of Esmée’s set their sights on giving back to Sheffield Children’s in 2023. A team of nine people took part in our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge as a thank you for Esmée’s care, raising an incredible £10,600 for The Children’s Hospital Charity!
Many of our supporters choose to take on a challenge as a team – especially our much-loved Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, which will take place on 20th July this year You can sign up for this event at tchc.org.uk/YorkshireThreePeaks.
Dragon Boat Race
Our brand new Dragon Boat Race will take team building to the next level as we encourage all hands on deck for our teams of 17 racing across the lake to beat other teams along the way. Taking place on 2nd June at Manvers Lake in Rotherham, it’s a fun and competitive event for work colleagues, friends, and family.
Registration for this event has just opened and we’ve had some fabulous teams sign up already – we cannot wait to see you all there! If you’d like to sign up, you can visit tchc.org.uk/DragonBoatRace.
The exciting all-new Dragon Boat Race setting sail this year!
Great North Run
We like to offer something for everyone, so if you’re looking for a little less competition, why not take on one of many running events for Team Theo? We’ve got some incredible routes on our roster this year, including the Great North Run and Sheffield Half Marathon.
The world’s largest half marathon, the Great North Run, is taking place in Newcastle on 8th September this year. This iconic race will see 60,000 runners begin the route in Newcastle, finishing in South Shields. Each year, we have runners from across the world travel to Newcastle for this unmissable event.
Last year, South Yorkshire mum, Jaga Natsagdorj, took on the Great North Run as a thank-you for the care of her son, Albert. Jaga signed up for the challenge as she’d witnessed first-hand how Sheffield Children’s cared for children in far worse conditions than her little boy whilst he was undergoing treatment. Jaga’s commitment was so inspiring as she hadn’t been a regular runner before signing up for this huge feat, where she managed to raise over £1,000 and cross the finish line with her husband and children cheering her along. As one of the most sought-after running spots each year, the Great North Run is not to be missed. The run is so popular that there are only charity places left! We have a limited number available, so head to tchc.org.uk/GreatNorthRun to get yours.
Jaga Natsagdorj with her son, Albert, for whom she took on the Great North Run as a thank-you for his care provided by Sheffield Children’s Hospital
Sheffield Half Marathon
If you’re looking for a half-marathon closer to home, there is always the Sheffield Half Marathon on the 7th April! Director of Bravand, Ross Musgrove, recently signed up for the Sheffield Half Marathon, dedicating his fundraising to Sheffield Children’s as a thank-you for the care he and his sister received growing up in Sheffield. Being a father himself now, it’s these personal connections that have kept him motivated to raise vital funds, even when training gets tough.
If you sign up with Team Theo, you also get to enjoy additional perks! We recently partnered with Firehouse Fitness to bring you discounts, and free gym sessions to help with your training – how amazing is that?! Visit tchc.org.uk/SheffieldHalfMarathon to find out more.
I can’t wait to meet more supporters at these events and learn even more about how the Charity can help Sheffield Children’s to change lives. We’ve got plenty more events you can get involved with on our website at tchc.org.uk/events.
To donate or learn more about the charity’s work, visit tchc.org.uk/nccht.
