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Helen Witcombe of Bath-based Epoch Wealth Management took on the challenge to climb Kilimanjaro back in 2014 in support of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). In November Helen’s appetite for extreme overseas adventures returned and, once again in support of CHSW, Helen self-funded a trip that saw her reach Everest Base Camp (EBC).

Incredibly, Helen’s fundraising total has just tipped £20k, money which will go directly to helping CHSW support children with life-limiting conditions and their families from Bath, West Wiltshire, Somerset and Bristol.

Helen said,

‘The trek was tough, really

Tamara Fraser from Canada is 49 years old and lives approximately 2,700 miles away from the beautiful city of Bath and the little girl she is running the Bath Half Marathon 2018 for, Sophie.

Tamara ‘buddied up’ with 14-year old Sophie through a group called I Run 4 which aims to provide athletes of all levels with a motivation, purpose, and power for their workouts. After being on the waiting list for 6 months, Tamara was matched with Sophie and her mum, Faith; a match she says was ‘made in heaven’.

Sophie lives in Bristol and has Rett Syndrome; a rare genetic neurological and developmental

Huge congratulations to the team at recruitment specialists Girling Jones in Exeter, who took on and completed a mammoth cycle challenge for CHSW - in just five days!

They set up three static bikes in their quayside offices and staff took turns to put in some of the miles needed to get them ‘virtually’ from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. On the fifth and final day of their challenge, the team set up camp in Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter, where two teams of three took on the final leg of the journey. Cheered on by shoppers and Girling Jones staff, they successfully completed the 874 mile

Lottery winners spent 24 hours making the 'gingerbread house' at Little Bridge House

Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Bridge House received an early Christmas gift on Thursday thanks to a show of generosity from National Lottery winners.

Past winners from across the south of the country spent 24 hours creating a giant ‘gingerbread’ playhouse for children and their families to enjoy.

Armed with plenty of paintbrushes and tools, the winners, with a combined wealth of over £23million, turned a simple wood cabin into the themed house that will be filled with resources.

Allison Ryder

Over 200 Santas on motorbikes rode from Lee Mill down to St Austell on Saturday 2nd December to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). The ride culminated in a visit to CHSW’s children’s hospice Little Harbour in St Austell where riders were greeted by members of the Fundraising Team with warm refreshments.

Santas on a Bike events happened across the region on Saturday with two other rides going ahead in Devon and Bristol supporting CHSW’s other two hospices; Little Bridge House in Barnstaple and Charlton Farm in Bristol. Riders started at Lee Mill and then rode through

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) welcomed over 600 Santas to the Eden Project on Sunday 3 rd December to take part in its annual Santas on the Run event which last year raised £20,000 for the local children’s charity.

Santas on the Run was a 2km sponsored fun run which all ages took part in and was being generously sponsored by Ocean Housing Group meaning more money raised by those taking part will go straight to the charity which hopes to raise around £20,000 once again this year.

There were two runs throughout the day which saw families, work colleagues and friends all dressed as Santa

Brave 11 year old Emily Crisp will be remembered at Exeter Santa Run

Among those taking part in this weekend’s annual Santa Run in Exeter is a group of health workers who have been inspired to take part in memory of an 11-year-old girl who recently died.

Emily Crisp, from Bradninch, had a very rare condition called Bohring-Opitz syndrome that affects the development of many parts of the body.

She was diagnosed when she was three months old and at that time there were only 30 other known cases of it in the world.

A team of around 10 members of Virgin Care's multiple sensory impairment team in

The North Devon Gazette’s much-loved light Up a Life appeal was launched to an audience of thousands this year.

It was marked with the switch-on of a special illuminated star in Barnstaple Square during the town’s Christmas lights celebrations on Sunday.

Now in its 21st year, the appeal has become a Christmas tradition to enable people to remember a loved one and help raise money for North Devon Hospice and Children’s Hospice South West.

The charities host a series of services of remembrance across North Devon through December.

The star in the Square has been joined by stars at both hospices

It’s not often solicitors and chartered surveyors square up to each other for a fight but that’s what happened in the annual conker competition in Plymouth, organised by wealth management company Brewin Dolphin.

Emotions were running high and the atmosphere was tense as Plymouth-based surveyors Monk & Partners prepared to do battle with legal experts Gard & Co in the finals. Conker struck conker until, for the second year in succession, Monk & Partners again proved invincible.

“Ten companies entered and we raised £125 for Children’s Hospice South West,” said Brewin Dolphin Chartered Wealth

59 year old dairy farmer Paul Richards from Hayle is rested and recuperated after becoming the first Cornishman to complete the Mongol Derby and raising over £22,000 for Children’s Hospice South West.

Paul completed the challenge in August which involved riding wild horses across 1,000km of Mongolian steppe. The ride took him 9 days and he experienced all types of weather and terrain along the way. Out of the 42 people who took part from 8 different countries only 30 completed the ride without assistance, Paul being one of them.

Mercian Potatoes and Cornish Mutual generously sponsored Paul