90-mile net-walking fundraiser one step closer thanks to Chipping Norton design agency

The Net-Walk This May challenge involves participants networking whilst walking 11.25 miles per leg through eight towns over a four week period, stopping off to support the venues in Oxfordshire that Business Buzz would typically host its monthly meetings.

There are many miles left to walk but the Group has already exceeded its £1,000 target for the children’s hospice. A child's death is every parent's worst nightmare, but nobody ever thinks it will happen to them. Helen & Douglas House helps local families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child who will die prematurely.

The Chipping Norton leg was sponsored locally by Andrew Tredre-Short and Simon Gunn, owners of Thunder, creators of fine graphic design experiences since 1993.

Simon Gunn, of Thunder, who took part in the Chipping Norton walk, said: “It was a pleasure to get involved and walk around our beautiful town whilst helping to support the wonderful work of the Helen & Douglas children’s hospice, a very special place.”

For Hospices, as much as 85 per cent of their income to cover running costs comes from donations. Sadly, many of them are operating at a deficit. Helen & Douglas House needs support now.

Alison Hooker, with Helen & Douglas House children’s hospice, said: “Fundraising is crucial to the continued survival of a charity. It is great to see so many people get involved with the net-walk to help us continue our essential work. We are grateful to all the walkers, sponsors and donors for putting their best foot forward to complete this challenge!”

The Chipping Norton Leg started on June 3 with tea and coffee at Bloxham Mill Business Centre before heading to the town to start the walk. The walk included a visit through Overnorton onto The Rollright Stones, before finishing at The Chequers Goddards Lane (where the Chipping Norton Buzz group networked pre-Covid) for a well-deserved lunch.

Lisa-Marie Mallier, regional lead for Business Buzz Oxfordshire, said: “We believe we can achieve great things in business and for our local community by working together. The net-walk is a great way for us to reconnect safely in person and to revisit the beautiful towns that we traditionally hold our monthly networking events.”

The networking group has completed five of its scheduled eight walks - Banbury, Oxford, Chipping Norton, Bicester, and Thame so far raising over £1300 in online and offline donations.

For more information on the 90-mile Net-Walk challenge, or to donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/buzznetwalkthismay