There are so many ways that fundraising can make a difference – but one of the things we especially love to see, particularly during these disjointed days, is the way a shared challenge can bring friends and family together and provide special support for a family in the thick of the most testing times.

So today we’d like you to take a moment to read about the fantastic Team Neve.

Team Neve is named after a fabulous little girl who loves climbing, cycling and zip wires.

Neve was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the summer. Within days she’d had major brain surgery, followed by radiotherapy at the Churchill Hospital and then chemotherapy, receiving care on Kamran’s Ward at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, which looks after children with cancer.

As Neve approached her eighth birthday, her mum, Emily, and a group of 37 friends decided to tackle our Great Big Hospital Charity Challenge – and set themselves the target of all running (or in some cases walking) 8km and raising £8,000 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Neve’s mum, Emily explains: ‘We decided to do something positive to thank the many hospital teams helping us through. Soon we had friends all over the country promising to run 8k, and in some cases 8k for 8 days, to help our fundraising in honour of Neve’s birthday.

'Many of the team were teachers from Neve’s school, Larkrise Primary, they’ve been absolutely fantastic. It was so wonderful to have so many people coming together to support us.’

‘I was keen to work with a local cause so we would know how the money was spent, and that it would be put to really good long-term use and help people locally.’

‘Our lives have changed so much in recent months, and so much is out of our control, but raising money and doing something positive was something we could do. I also know that many charities have missed out on vital funds due to cancelled events, so this felt like something that would make a real difference.

Over the past week Team Neve have all run their 8k, and they have smashed their target raising close to  £10,000!

Emily adds: ‘We’ve had so much emotional and practical support from friends – it has really helped us keep going. They were there to catch us, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness. It’s made a huge difference.’

Incredibly this isn’t the first bit of fundraising the family have done. Just a few months ago, Neve’s older sister, Maya, cut off her hair and donated it to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children with cancer, raising over £8,000 for Kamran’s Ward in the process, which is funding a specialist piece of equipment called a vein finder.

The family intend to keep going with their fundraising efforts – with other plans in the pipeline. 

If you'd like to help them top the £10,000, (they've just got £452 to go right now) please visit

https://www.justgiving.com/team/Team-Neve

And if you're inspired to to take on a challenge to support one of our special hospitals visit

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/charitychallenge2020

We can’t thank them enough!

To find out more about how Oxford Hospitals Charity makes a difference across the wards and departments of your local hospitals, get in touch with the team via the methods below.  Tel: 01865 743 444 Email: [email protected]  MAKE A DONATION NOW     OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT Do remember to tick the Gift Aid box if you are a UK taxpayer, as that will increase your donation by 25 percent.