Included in that team were current team members, Gareth Warner, Lisa Connolly, Katie Hilsdon, Lorraine Constable, Jon Rowe and Victoria Sampson.
The challenge kicked off at 6.00am, as TeamCB started its ascent of Ben Nevis in high spirits, enjoying Scottish sun and snow. After climbing 1344m, and with no time to spare, the team were driven to Scafell Pike in the Lake District. This 978m ascent proved to be the toughest climb of the Three Peaks. But, together, the team rallied and showed real determination to successfully overcome their second peak, in an incredible time of three hours, the fastest their guide for the 24 hours ‘Smurf’, had seen it done!
Then it was back in the minibus and the chance to get some sleep before a 3.00am start to face a dark, cold, wet and windy 1085m climb up Snowdon. However, within the 24 hours, TeamCB had completed the Three Peaks and it was time for a well-deserved cooked breakfast! This first big TeamCB charity challenge raised more than £9,000 for the hospice charity ellenor.
At the time, Katie Hilsdon said: “It has been a total team effort and throughout every moment, when sometimes we wanted to stop, we have been spurred on by the reason we committed to this – the babies and children who are cared for every day by ellenor.”
Since then, TeamCB has ticked off three further massive challenges and raised an astonishing £80,000 in total for charity in the process! And, throughout each of these, our team members have always had the lives of those the money raised will affect in the forefront of their minds.
In 2019, a team from CooperBurnett – Victoria Sampson, Joseph Oates, John Spence, Katie Hilsdon and Gareth Warner – cycled 300km from London to Paris in 24 hours. This challenge was particularly poignant for Katie, as the fundraising was initiated to raise funds for her cousin Oli Hilsdon’s treatment for an aggressive brain tumour. Sadly, he passed away before the challenge from glioblastoma multiforme, aged just 26. TeamCB completed the ride and ended up sending £27,500 to Brain Tumour Research in his memory.
Again, this challenge turned out to be just that… a challenge. Taking place in May, the team were initially concerned about high temperatures but, in the end, faced freezing rain and high winds. Even the last few miles were unforgiving – who knew Paris had quite so many cobblestones!
In 2023, CooperBurnett set its sights on raising funds for the children’s hospice charity, Demelza, by tackling the ultra-marathon Race to the King. Three of our team Ayla Clissold, Sarah Strong and Gemma Gillespie, each individually covered an incredible 100km (62.1 miles) – with Ayla and Sarah amazingly completing that distance in one go. In total, this raised £5,500, which was pound-matched by our equity partners, resulting in £11,000 heading the charity.
Over the years, this pound-matching has become an important part of our fundraising and it highlights the commitment of CooperBurnett’s equity partners to show their support to everyone taking part in these incredible challenges.
“Pound-matching seemed like a very tangible way we, as equity partners, could recognise the commitment shown by our team members and acknowledge those who kindly sponsor us,” says Partner, Joseph Oates. “It also encourages those taking part in the challenges to dig a little deeper when the going gets tough.”
Last year was TeamCB’s biggest charity challenge to date – the CB Charity Coastal Challenge – with team members completing ten marathons in a single day. This hit the target of raising £10,000 for the children’s bereavement charity, Jigsaw South East. Again, this was pound-matched by equity partners and £20,000 headed to the charity.
We couldn’t do any of these challenges without the support of our fantastic charity committee, made up of Katie Hilsdon, Lisa Connolly and Ayla Clissold – all of whom not just encouraged their colleagues to take on these challenges but have each completed at least one themselves over the years.
A big shout-out for his dedication and stamina must also go to our Head of Accounts and TeamCB colleague for nearly 30 years, Gareth Warner, who has taken part in every single one of our big charity challenges!
“Over the past ten years, the commitment and bravery of our team to complete these challenges has made me burst with pride,” says Partner, Victoria Sampson. “I have shed many tears – of joy, relief and sheer exhaustion – but it’s all been worth it, particularly when we hear the difference the funds we’ve raised have made to the lives of people supported by our chosen charities. Of course, we couldn’t achieve any of these challenges without the steadfast support of our charity committee and every single member of TeamCB, from those doing the challenges, to colleagues who have driven through the dark to support our teams.”
While, like Glastonbury, we are having a ‘fallow year’ in 2026, there are already plans on the table for our next charity challenge in 2027. Whatever this challenge will be, we can guarantee that it will be as inspiring as the previous ones!
Next year, our efforts will raise funds for our current chosen charity, The Good Company People – an incredible organisation offering practical help, friends groups and one-to-one support for people growing older. Watch this space!
