Dorset County Hospital Charity is seeking enthusiastic participants to join the DCH100 Jurassic Coast Challenge on 17-18 May 2025 in aid of the hospital’s Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit Appeal.
This is an outstanding opportunity to make a lasting impact for our local hospital, whilst also getting fit and having fun.
Launching the 2025 event, the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Michael Dooley LVO said,
“I am delighted to support the DCH100 Jurassic Coast Challenge aiming to raise £50,000 for the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. Funds raised will be used to offer so much to so many. I completed the walk last year, and it was an incredible adventure. Walking alongside a wonderful team, we raised money for a truly special cause.
I encourage you to follow the links to register now. Let’s lace up our shoes for fitness, for fun and to help this wonderful cause. Together we can make a lasting impact.”
The DCH100 Team is calling corporate teams, adventurers and community groups of all experience levels and ages to join them to walk, jog, stagger or run our spectacular Jurassic Coast and hit the fundraising target of £50,000. Anyone can enter and choose their distance from:
- Full 100km challenge over 2 days, without an overnight stop
- Full 100km challenge over 2 days, with an overnight stop
- 75km three quarter loop
- 58km half challenge
- Weymouth Marathon 42km
- 25km quarter challenge
- The family friendly 10km Bridport Loop.
Here is Amanda and Laura’s story from last year:
“In February 2024 we unexpectedly found ourselves spending hours with our dad in the Critical Care Unit at DCH and we couldn’t be more grateful to the staff for making his final few days as comfortable as they could be. The empathy and care shown were heartwarming, thank you.”
They laced up their walking boots and joined the DCH100 team: “as we couldn’t have asked for better care for our dad in his final days”.
Starting from Corfe Castle, the route heads past Durdle Door, with ups and downs to West Bay’s famous cliffs, before the finish line at Bridport: all with full support, food and drinks throughout from Ultra Challenge. The DCH100 team will have information and advice from a nutritionist to help you get in the stride.
This vital £2.5 million local Appeal is the charity’s largest capital appeal to date and will fund enhanced facilities for the new Critical Care Unit such as a Critical Care Paediatric bed facility and patient garden, and an innovative Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in the Emergency Department. The Appeal will also fund artistically designed elements in both new units to help create a sympathetic and healing environment for the benefit of all.
Simon Pearson, Head of Charity at Dorset County Hospital said,
“Our Emergency and Critical Care Appeal is our biggest ever fundraising appeal. The DCH100 Jurassic Coast Challenge provides a tremendous opportunity for our local community to raise significant funds in support of the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit. Our sincere thanks to Michael Dooley for inspiring this event last year and his valued commitment to encouraging all to step up and take on the challenge for 2025.”
To find out more about supporting the DCH100 Challenge in aid of the DCH Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, scan the QR Code here:
or please visit Events and Challenges – dchcharity.org.uk or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk.
Michael Dooley and team on the 2024 trail