A hospice is inviting supporters to make a New Year’s resolution to support its operations by taking part in a thrill-seeking or endurance challenge.

Over 1,000 people took on a challenge in aid of Katharine House in 2022 and this year the hospice has a host of challenges on offer, including sponsored walks, cycle rides, runs, an abseil and a skydive.

READ MORE: Hearing for Oxford teacher who called Muhammad 'false prophet'

On October 15, runners are once again being invited to take part in the Oxford Half, where participants make their way around a scenic 13.1-mile route throughout the University Parks and historic Oxford City Centre.

Not for the faint hearted, a daring abseil down the National Lift Tower in Northampton takes place on June 17.

At a staggering 418 feet, it is now the largest abseil tower in the world.

The hospice’s flagship Moonlight Walk event is back, taking place at Easington Sports Club on Saturday May 20.

This year, Katharine House is ‘Going to the Movies’, and is inviting the hundreds of walkers that take part every year to take on a 6-mile or 10-mile walk dressed as their favourite film star.

Or if thrill-seekers fancy the experience of free-falling through the clouds from 13,000ft, they can take part in a Skydive for Katharine House, taking place on September 9.

Senior community nurse for Katharine House Helen Fletcher, who took part in the last skydive for Katharine House, said: "Just do it. I can't say loudly enough just how fantastic and exhilarating the whole experience was.

“I'd do it again in a heartbeat - not only for me, but for the hospice too. The skydiving team were so supportive and the moment when I sat on the edge of the plane and looked at the clouds before jumping was extraordinary."

Other challenge events include the Thames Path challenge on September 9-10 where participants walk 25km, 50km or 100km around England’s greatest river; a 25-mile, 50-mile or 75-mile Bike Oxford ride through the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside on 25 June.

There is also a hike around some of London’s scary streets and historic haunts as part of the Halloween Walk on October 28.

Katharine House events manager, Helen Lerwill, said: “If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get fit, challenge yourself or try something new, then our events might be just the thing.

“Turn your personal goal into so much more, by helping to raise money for people living with an incurable illness.”

To find out more about the hospice’s challenge events, visit www.khh.org.uk/events.

 

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1