Avenue Steeplechase 2026

Fundraising for the School Charities 2026: Sobell House and Williams Syndrome Foundation 

This year pupils and staff are carrying out House fundraising activities and running the Steeplechase for our 2 School Charities: Sobell House and Williams Syndrome Foundation. All donations will be equally distributed among the two charities. Our hope is that every pupil will be able to raise £100 over the coming weeks by asking just £10 from 10 sponsors among their family, friends and contacts. Please help us support these 2 wonderful Charities. 

The local charity which we will be supporting this year is Sobell House. Sobell House is a charity which provides end-of-life care, helping people to live well in the time that they have and to die with dignity. Their care is compassionate, specialist and person-centred – and they also support family members and friends. Every year, they support more than 4,500 people in and around Oxford, through more than 40,000 interactions with patients and their families. When Sobell House opened in 1976, a week of end-of-life care cost £47.  It now costs around £670. If we reach our target to raise £50,000 for each charity this year, we will able to help more than 70 people at the end of their lives.   

The second school charity that we will be supporting is Williams Syndrome Foundation. WSF supports individuals and families living with Williams Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder which occurs randomly, and which affects around one in 18,000 people in the UK. It causes a range of issues from heart and bowel problems to low muscle tone, mental health issues, learning disabilities, and sensory and behavioural issues. Many adults with Williams Syndrome will be unable to live independently without significant support – support which the charity provides.  

Thank you for your support!