More than £15,000 has been raised for Royal Star & Garter through the 2.6 Challenge.

The challenge was a nationwide initiative aimed at helping charities feeling the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of cancelled mass-participation fundraising events such as the London Marathon. Royal Star & Garter joined with thousands of other charities to take part in the challenge.

Fundraisers including relatives of residents, Royal Star & Garter’s chairman Major General Tim Tyler, and members of staff helped raise a current total of £15,216.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia at Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

Over half the amount came from the CiaO Foundation, a charity which aims to motivate, inspire and help individuals going through challenges. It raised £7,696 through a variety of challenges, including people baking 26 cakes, cycling 260 miles and climbing a flight of stairs 260 times!

Major General Tyler raised more than £4,820 through a virtual row between Royal Star & Garter’s three Homes. There were also valuable contributions from other fundraisers including the great grandchildren of a High Wycombe resident, staff from the Homes and the charity’s administration office.

Andrew Hogge, chairman of the CiaO Foundation, said: “CiaO would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the 2.6 Challenge and for making their donations to support the care homes of Royal Star & Garter. We have raised a significant sum. In addition to raising the much-needed funds, we know from kind and positive comments that we have also raised awareness for the dedication of the staff who work in the care homes which in turn is hugely appreciated by the veterans themselves.”

Lauren Baker, Senior Community Fundraiser for Royal Star & Garter said: “With the cancellation of mass participation events, I never imagined we would raise such an impressive amount when we joined the 2.6 challenge – this was a new way of fundraising for us. Our thanks go to all our fundraisers who took part in great challenges, and their kind supporters who generously gave money to help us continue providing exceptional person-centred care for our residents.”