2024 in review: Your fantastic fundraising!

Last year, 948 of you put your time and energy into raising much-needed funds for Weston Park Cancer Charity. From hosting tea parties to teeing off on charity golf days, we’ve loved seeing your events unfold.

Your hard work helps us to fund cancer research, provide life-changing support services, and improve the environment at our hospitals. Here, we celebrate some of your best fundraising moments from 2024.

Active challenge champions

Last year, over 500 fundraisers braved the rain and took part in our second Walk As One event. Walkers set off from Endcliffe Park and completed routes of either 2, 4, or 10 miles across Sheffield’s beautiful woods and countryside. The day was a very moving one - full of joy, reflection, and laughter. We’re proud to say that participants raised over £50k for our vital cancer support services.

In 2024, around 130 of you laced up your trainers and ran in support of Weston Park Cancer Charity. Our fundraisers took part in the Sheffield Half Marathon, the Sheffield 10k, the Sheffield Round Run, and many more besides. As well as clocking up countless miles, our runners raised over £85,000 for the one in two of us who will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime.

Off to the races

The Ant Marketing Weston Park Cancer Charity Race Day is always a highlight in our fundraising calendar – and 2024’s event was no exception. The race day took place in May at the prestigious Doncaster Racecourse and raised an amazing £40,000. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated, supported, and volunteered to make the day so special.

Our sporty stars

In 2024, we continued our ‘Together at Every Step’ partnership with Barnsley Football Club, Sheffield Wednesday, and Sheffield United. Our volunteers collected donations at Oakwell, and Bramall Lane, and players warmed up in our signature Weston Park Cancer Charity t-shirts. The partnership has now raised over £40,000 since it launched in 2021.

47 teams took part in the 2024 Weston Park Cancer Charity Golf Day which was held at the Hallamshire Golf Club. The event raised a fantastic £35,000, which will help us to provide complimentary therapies and services to people living with cancer.

Last year also marked the 15th instalment of the Adrian Hart Charity Golf Day, which is organised every year by the brilliant Hart family. The 2024 event raised £5,430 for the charity, bringing the family’s fundraising total to an astounding £100k! The Hart family’s dedication and hard work has changed so many lives across our region and we can’t thank them enough.

‘Baking’ a difference

Last year, hundreds of you came together to raise some dough for our Time for Tea campaign. We are so grateful to all of the businesses, schools, and organisations across South Yorkshire who held bake sales and hosted charity tea parties. We’d also like to thank Rahul Mandal, our charity ambassador and winner of the 2018 Great British Bake Off, for lending invaluable support to the campaign.

BB with Love’s gala dinner

In October, guests enjoyed an afternoon of glitz and glamour at the BB with Love ‘Simply the Best 2024’ gala dinner. The event took place in Sheffield City Hall’s stunning ballroom and featured a red-carpet entrance, drinks, and fine dining. Attendees were treated to performances from the sensational West End star Matt Croke, who was joined on stage by special guests.

The event was held in memory of beloved wife and mum Bev Croke, who died from breast cancer at the age of 61. This spectacular event helped to bring the Croke family’s fundraising total to £200k.

In 2025, the Croke family will host their final BB with Love concert on Saturday 4th October. Tickets for ‘Simply the Best 2025: The Final Ovation’ are now on sale on the Sheffield City Hall website.

Festive fundraisers

The 2024 Christmas Star Appeal was a great success, with over £25k raised. As well as donating to the appeal, festive fundraisers held sponsored pyjama days, organised raffles, took part in carol concerts, and sent charity Christmas cards. All of these acts of kindness will make a huge difference to people in our region who have been impacted by cancer.

We’d also like to thank players from Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, who visited the hospital to meet with patients and spread festive cheer.

A special thank you

As we look back on last year, we wanted to take a moment to honour Donna Taylor – a mum of two from Parson Cross who sadly passed away in September.

After being diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer in 2023, Donna was determined to make a difference. During her treatment she set up her own charity ‘Dee’s Tummy Cancer UK’ in partnership with Weston Park Hospital Development Fund and Cavendish Cancer Care.

In her last year of life, Donna organised several fundraising events, including a race night, a bingo night, and ‘Donna’s Disco’. She raised thousands and spread crucial awareness of stomach cancer through TV and radio appearances. Donna will be much missed, and leaves behind an incredible legacy.

Looking ahead to 2025

This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for Weston Park Cancer Charity, with a whole host of events to take part in. This January, we’re encouraging supporters to get active by hiking, running, or skydiving in support of the charity. Choose from one of our main challenges or set up your own here.

To find out more about how to get involved in 2025, visit our events page. If you’d like to organise your own event, please email us on charityteam@wpcancercharity.org.uk