Pedalling for a Great Cause: Our Rowcroft Hospice Pedal Kart Grand Prix Experience

There are some events where the final result simply doesn't tell the whole story, and the Rowcroft Hospice Charity Pedal Kart Grand Prix was definitely one of them.

This year, our team was delighted to be asked to take part alongside six other teams, all coming together with one shared goal, to raise money for the incredible work carried out by Rowcroft Hospice. With plenty of friendly rivalry, lots of encouragement from spectators, and a real sense of community spirit, it proved to be a fantastic day from start to finish.

The challenge was simple (in theory) but far tougher in practice: pedal as many laps as possible around the circuit in 90 minutes. Every member of the team gave it their all, taking turns behind the wheel and digging deep as the race wore on.

By the chequered flag, we had completed an impressive 86 laps. While that placed us at the bottom of the leaderboard, we couldn't have been happier with our efforts. The winning team, Torquay Rugby Club, completed an outstanding 114 laps in the same time, a phenomenal achievement that deserves huge congratulations.  We thought perhaps they were powered by the HI-POW Range!

The real winners, however, are Rowcroft Hospice. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who took part, donated, sponsored, volunteered and supported the event, an incredible £4,361.62 was raised. Every penny will help Rowcroft continue providing outstanding care and support to local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Events like this don't happen without an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. We'd like to give a special mention and our heartfelt thanks to Quentin O'Gorman, whose hard work and dedication in organising the Grand Prix made the day such a success. Organising an event of this scale is no small task, and Quentin's commitment ensured everything ran smoothly from beginning to end.

We'd also like to thank the fantastic team of volunteers who gave up their time to marshal the course, keep everything running safely, support the teams and create such a welcoming atmosphere throughout the day. Their enthusiasm and commitment were instrumental in making the event such an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored us, cheered us on and supported this wonderful fundraiser. Your generosity made a real difference, and we are incredibly grateful.

We may have finished last this year, but we left with smiles on our faces, memories to cherish, and the satisfaction of knowing we'd played our part in supporting an amazing local charity. That's what the day was really about.

We'll definitely be back next year—hopefully a little fitter, a little faster, and ready to chase down a few more laps. Whatever the result, we can't wait to be part of another brilliant day raising money for such a worthy cause.