SWS UK Smashes Local Fundraising Target

SWS UK has recently doubled its fundraising target, bringing in over £1300 as part of an innovative new fundraiser held by Lancaster’s St John’s Hospice earlier this year.

They joined 50 other local businesses in a bid to each raise £500 over a 50-day period. Aptly named the 50-50-500 Challenge, St John’s Hospice introduced the fundraiser to raise awareness and boost financial support for its charitable services. Serving a population of more than 250,000 people across North Lancashire and the South Lakes, St John’s is known locally for its excellent palliative care and bereavement support, however, this vital community provision relies solely on donations and community funding.

With free rein to think up their own methods of raising £500, the creative team at SWS UK settled on a mammoth cycling challenge, aiming to cycle a staggering 500 miles over 50 business days. Showing their team spirit, was more than 40 employees across the businesses’ factory and offices who stepped into the saddle to support SWS UK in its fundraising effort.  They were cheered on by their colleagues as they each cycled up to 5 miles on one of two spinning bikes set up in the company’s showroom. For the final push and taking the team over the 500-mile finish line was Technical Manager, John Duffy, who took part in a 60-mile road race from Manchester to Blackpool.

SWS UK’s baking enthusiasts also contributed to the total money raised. A hugely successful bake sale raked in a further £100 whilst also providing welcome fuel for the cyclists! Throughout the fundraiser, SWS UK documented its progress with a popular social media campaign, highlighting the team’s effort. The campaign brought in huge levels of support from its customers as well as family and friends, meaning it wasn’t long before they surpassed their £500 target, eventually reaching an impressive £1375.

Commenting on SWS UK’s involvement was St John’s Fundraising Executive, Lily Knight ‘It was an absolute pleasure to have SWS UK take part in our very first 50-50-500 Charity Challenge. Through their 500 mile cycle challenge they raised such a fantastic amount of money that will make all the difference to the care and support we provide from Grasmere to Garstang, and Sedbergh over to Morecambe Bay. We have to raise £10,000 a day to keep our services running, SWS truly have made such a difference and we cannot thank them enough.’

SWS UK’s Managing Director Colin Reoch added, ‘St John’s Hospice is a treasured asset within our community, and I know that it has provided a lifeline for some of our own employees. Taking part in the 50-50-500 challenge gave us the opportunity to show our appreciation to the hospice and everything they do.

It was a pleasure to watch the SWS team join forces and I’m proud of our collective efforts in raising such a substantial sum of money. We were blown away by the donations we received from customers, colleagues, and our families and I’d like to personally thank them for their support.’