To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and raise money for our charity of choice, Demelza, a team from CooperBurnett LLP has signed up to take part in a challenging ultra-marathon event - the Dulux Race To The King.

The brave team members who are taking part are Partners Victoria Sampson, Joseph Oates, Gemma Gillespie and Sarah Strong; Head of Accounts, Gareth Warner; Associate Solicitor, Ayla Clissold; and PA to our Commercial Property Team, Hannah Mashford.

The event, which will involve covering 100km – the distance of two ultra-marathons! - will take place on a route steeped in history, where our team will follow in the paths of kings. They will head off from Goodwood and take in the Monarch’s Way to the ancient coastal village of Bosham, on to the mighty Arundel Castle and back to Goodwood.

Incredibly, Ayla has opted to run the entire 100km in just one day, while Sarah and Hannah will be walking the course in one day. In the meantime, Victoria, Joseph, Gemma and Gareth will be completing it over two consecutive days (Saturday 17 June and Sunday 18 June).

“Some might argue that those of us tackling it in two days are getting off lightly – but I disagree!,” say Victoria. “We will be camping out in the wilds on the Saturday night – with no hot bath, massages or any luxuries at all – and getting up to face 50km all over again!”

However you look at it, completing 100km is no mean feat!

CooperBurnett will be raising money for the children’s hospice charity, Demelza – which delivers extraordinary care to extraordinary children who are facing serious or life-limiting conditions, throughout Kent, South East London and East Sussex. Demelza is here to support them and their families at every step – from first diagnosis and for as long as we’re needed.

“As a firm we’ve taken on a number of charity challenges before – such as conquering the three peaks and cycling from London to Paris in 24 hours,” says Joseph Oates. “However, I believe this is our biggest challenge to date. For those doing it in either one or two days – completing 100km is going to be unbelievably tough.”

The firm has set the target of raising £5000 – which will be pound matched by the Partners at CooperBurnett.

Adds Victoria Sampson: “We are all bearing in mind though that this is nothing compared with the struggle families which Demelza support have to endure and that’s what will drive us on. Demelza believes in care that doesn’t back down and #TeamCB will not be backing down either.”

Demelza provides specialist care and emotional support for children with terminal conditions and their loved ones, so they can enjoy their time together as a family, for as long as they have.

We care for children with a range of different conditions, some of which are very complex and so rare, they have no name. Every year our work is a lifeline to over 750 children and their families throughout Kent, South East London and East Sussex.

As a charity, we're almost entirely dependent on the generosity of our supporters to provide the funds that keep our services going. Please make sure that every family can depend on us when they need us most.