News

A daredevil grandad and granddaughter are to undertake the challenge of a lifetime together – jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet.

Sixteen-year-old Freya Capsey and her 77 year-old grandad Graham Smith are to skydive from Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton on April 20 to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

The pair, both adrenaline junkies, decided on the joint challenge after Freya, whose nickname for her grandad is Gadge, joined CHSW’s Young Ambassador Scheme at Haysfield School in Bath.

The pair have already raised £1,225, smashing their original target of £800 and now

A group of friends nicknamed Bristol’s very own ‘Famous Five’ are off on an adventure along the coast – to raise money for Children's Hospice South West.

Claire Lawes, Beverley Wallace, Angela Norman, Julie Leyshon and Julie Burley are packing their rucksacks ready for their ‘5 ladies, 5 days and 50 miles’ challenge.

Their adventure will see the self-confessed ‘ladies of a certain age’ walk from Wembury near Plymouth to Dartmouth over 5 days beginning on May 7.

The friends, all who live in Bristol, have set themselves a target of raising £2,500 for Children’s Hospice South West.

Claire

44 year old Steve Heller from Camborne has run a series of marathons for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Steve’s running journey began 15 years ago after quitting alcohol, and since 2018 he has run various marathons and ultra-marathons for the charity, starting with the Eden Project marathon in 2018.

Steve has run 5 ultra-marathons, and also set himself personal challenges. He even ran 50km where he broke his wrist, and ran the last 8km with it tucked into his vest.

Steve said: “I’ve enjoyed the challenges, and everyone has been very generous and supportive, even local business have

A ‘proud son’ is to run the world-famous London Marathon for Children’s Hospice South West – after being inspired by the work his mum does for the charity.

Tobias Maltman, 27, is to join thousands of other runners as they pound the streets of the capital on April 21.

Chartered surveyor Tobias started running during the covid pandemic and his 26-mile challenge around London will be his first ever marathon.

He was inspired to run for CHSW as his mum Julie works as a nurse at its Charlton Farm Hospice in Wraxall.

“I have dropped mum off at work on occasions and have also visited the hospice,”

Ziggy and Shaun from Cornwall took part in the Banger Rally challenge to St Tropez in 2023.

They raised an incredible £2,286.85 for Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Little Harbour Hospice, as well as winning the ‘best dressed’ award in the competition.

They had kitted out their van, called PAT1 to make it habitable, and were able to eat, sleep and travel in it throughout the journey.

They left Charlestown harbour on the 23 September 2023, and faced a number of obstacles on route to France.

After departing the ferry in France, they set off for Bruges to complete a series of challenges

On the 12 July 2024, Emma and Mark Smale from Bideford will be taking part in Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Ride for Precious Lives Event.

Alongside their friends Carly Jones, Nick Stevens, Michael Davis and Steve Warner, not only will they be celebrating what would’ve been their daughter Imogen’s 13th birthday, but they will also be raising vital funds for “the most incredible charity.”

The Smale family visited Little Bridge House children’s hospice with Imogen in the time leading up to her death in March 2016, and continue receiving support from the hospice in their bereavement

A couple from St Ives who have been married for nearly 77 years have just celebrated turning 100 within a week of each other. Cyril and Iris Curnow, from Carbis Bay, both grew up in St Ives and have known each other since they were teenagers.

The couple asked for donations for Little Harbour Children’s Hospice in lieu of gifts at their birthday celebrations and raised a fantastic £760.

Cyril says the secret to a long life and happy marriage for him is to "be very tolerant" while Iris said: "It is give and take and never let the sun go down on any bad feeling."

Hilary Renowden, their daughter

Three men from a Cornish window business are taking on a 4 day coast path challenge to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Storeman Giles Wright, Managing Director Mat Jones and Surveyor Sam Julian from Camel Glass & Joinery Ltd are walking 100 miles for CHSW, their chosen charity of the year.

From the 24-27 March they will complete this challenge all while carrying a PVC window frame.

The 4-day 3-night coastal path route starts from Camel's Barnstaple branch to the head office branch in Wadebridge.

It is set to be a mental and physical challenge for the team, with overall

A brother and sister walked barefoot over coals reaching temperatures of 1200F to raise money for the children’s hospice which cared for their disabled sibling.

Charley Davis and brother Liam took on the roasting hot pathway at the Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Firewalk at Charlton Farm, Wraxall in memory of their foster brother Jack on Thursday 22 February

Jack was welcomed into the Davis family by mum and dad Sandie and Jim, aged just 2 years-old in 2007.

He joined the couple’s children Charley, Liam and Louise alongside siblings Katy, Jamie and Darren at the family home in

A group of volunteer needleworkers have been using their talents to create stunning homemade quilts for a children’s hospice.

Project Linus, a group of needlewomen based across the UK, handed over a number of quilts to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

The colourful quilts will be used at CHSW's Charlton Farm children's hospice.

Children and young people using the hospice are also able to take the quilts home with them.

Members of the Bath, Wells and surrounding areas Linus Group which handcrafted the items, popped into the hospice to present the quilts to staff.

Linus co-ordinator Linda