• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Monday June 22 2026

IT firm staff to support hospices with sponsored walk

Staff from IT support services expert Mintivo will walk, run or cycle 30 miles between two hospices to raise vital funds for them next month.

The Chippenham firm partners both Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley and Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, near Swindon, and, said people & culture director Mark Adams, staff have been so inspired by their work, they wanted to do something to help.

“We’ve provided support for Dorothy House for almost two years and we signed a contract with Prospect earlier this year, and as we’ve become more involved with both we have been more and more impressed with the fantastic service they provide for families,” he said.

“We try and do one fundraising event every year and when we sat down to talk about this year’s, came up with the idea of walking between the two. When we found out it was 30 miles we realised it was doable.”

Around 20 staff and their families have signed up for the Hospice to Hospice Challenge so far, which will take place on July 11. Participants will be allowed to run, walk or cycle. Mark said it will be more of a challenge for some than others. “There’s a real mix of fitness and abilities so it’s going to be a real test for some,” he said.

“Quite a few of us recently did the couch to 5k challenge, ending with the Chippenham Parkrun so that was a good introduction.”

The challenge will start at Prospect Hospice and finish some 12 hours later at Dorothy House. “We want to make it as accessible as possible so some people will cycle double the distance, run half of it or just join us for the last three miles because it is just about raising money for these two quite amazing charities,” said Mark.

Part of the route will be along the canal towpath and Mark is hoping some Mintivo customers will turn out to support the walkers, runners and cyclists. “We want to raise awareness as well as money so we want to be as visible as possible,” said Mark.

“Hospices touch so many peoples’ lives and the support they give to families is wonderful. I don’t think many of us at Mintivo realised just how much they do.”

The company works with a number of charities, including Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, and Mark said it is inevitable that staff working closely with charities are moved by their cause.

“Working as a team to give back to the community is part of Mintivo’s ethos and we love being close to the charities we support,” said Mark. “We do get inspired by the commitment and dedication of their volunteers.”

Mintivo’s staff have already raised £150 from National Football Shirt day when even those with no team allegiance donned colleagues’ spare shirts for a day. The target for the hospice challenge is £5,000, although Mark would like more.

“We’ve set up a fundraising site and we hope people will be generous and support us,” he said. “It’s a tough time for charities, who are facing rising costs at a time when demand for their service is also rising. We really hope we can help.”