Toy Trust’s Big Challenge smashes £1 million goal

On Saturday 6 May 2017, the Cotswolds hosted the annual Toy Trust Big Challenge with 200+ toy industry participants raising almost £170,000! Events undertaken saw 125 industry professionals take on a 12-mile ‘Tough Mudder’, which included 40 walkers completing a 10km walk, with 50 cyclists completing 80km and 125km cycle rides around the Cotswolds.

The colossal effort by all also broke new boundaries with the total raised in the past six Big Challenge events now breaking £1 million. The 2017 Big Cotswold Challenge’s main beneficiaries will be 22 NHS Children’s Hospitals around the UK, who will each receive brand new play equipment, being able to upgrade their play therapy facilities and thus bring the gift of play to thousands of sick children.

Laura James, who took part in Tough Mudder, said: 
'Participating in Tough Mudder was important to me because I was incredibly fortunate to have a happy and healthy childhood. Tragically, not every child has that luxury. Therefore, if there is something, no matter how big or small, I can do to help a child to have the best possible childhood then I will do it.'

The Toy Trust made the post-Big Challenge party in Chipping Norton a double celebration, using the event to mark the 25th Anniversary of the charity and also announcing it had raised and disbursed more than £5 million for children’s charities in the UK and overseas, since its founding in 1992. Children’s hospices, maternity units, special needs schools and orphanages have all been built with these funds along with thousands of smaller children’s charities that have been supported!

'The Toy Trust continues to achieve amazing results for the children’s charities it supports, and all 200 heroes who completed last Saturday’s Big Challenge and raised £170,000 deserve a huge thank you!' Foye Pascoe, Toy Trust Chair stated.'

'Our support of 19 children’s NHS hospitals in the coming months will make a profound difference to the lives of thousands of poorly children across the UK and endorses our message of Giving the Gift of Play.'