Virtual balloon race will raise money for Banbury's hospice

The hospice is running its own Coronation Virtual Balloon Race to raise much needed funds, now the Katharine House shops have had to close for lockdown.

The race is 100 per cent environmentally friendly and huge fun for family, friends and colleagues. You will get to follow your own balloon's progress on Google Maps and watch it sail through the skies with others tracking its progress along the way.

You will be able to see what happens to your balloon and you’ll find out what position you finished in.

Each balloon costs £3 and you can personalise your balloon - decide what shape it will be and what colour. You can even decide what thickness of rubber to use and how much helium to fill it with to perhaps give yourself an advantage.

Your balloon will then be launched along with hundreds of others from Westminster on Tuesday, June 2. The balloon that has reached the furthest when the race finishes seven days later will win a prize.

First prize is £500, second prize is an Apple iPad and third prize - for ten lucky winners - is a £10 book voucher each. The balloon that goes the furthest from all of the Katharine House balloons will win a small prize from the hospice.

And throughout the race, you’ll actually race against yourself, family and friends.

Some may want to buy more than one balloon, give them different thicknesses of rubber and amounts of helium and see which one flies the best. You could have mini competitions against yourself or buy several balloons for different family members and friends.

It is easy and fun. It only takes a few steps but it's an opportunity to learn and teach geography and aerodynamics as well as put your design skills to the test.

To buy your balloon, follow the steps on the Katharine House website balloon race page here.