Oxfordshire's trail of painted Ox sculptures raises over £200,000 for Sobell House Hospice
It comes as the ‘Ox trail’ has come to an end with all funds raised going towards Sobell House Hospice
Last updated 14th Sep 2024
Oxfordshire’s ‘OxTrail’ has raised £110,000 with its auction of painted Ox to raise funds of Sobell House Hospice on top of the £100,000 they had already raised throughout the campaign.
It’s part of this summer’s Wild in Art trail where more than 130 oxen have decorated the county, with them being designed by local schools and artists.
All the sculptures that were designed by schools have been given back from them to keep. Although, there was over 50 oxons went under the hammer to raise more funds.
Sobell House Hospice needs to gain £3 million in fundraising to provide their services every year. CEO of the charity is Amelia Foster, she says: “It’s going to make an enormous difference to the people of Oxfordshire.
“We are so grateful to all the people that bid tonight, it was so exciting seeing the bids come in, hearing them come in and seeing them in the room.
“It’s going to make such a difference, it enables us to provide compassionate care where people want it whether that’s in their home, in hospitals or at Sobell House.
“It has been an absolute rollercoaster but one of the best the best kind. The one that’s exciting, thrilling and at times exhausting but it’s been wonderful to bring the team together, to give something back to the community and just engage everyone.
“It’s just been the most fantastic success”.
The event was hosted by celebrity auctioneer, Thomas Forrester from Bargain Hunt. He said: “It’s tremendous to be involved. Every time a lot is sold that money is only going to go where that money is needed and it’s going to be used in a way which we don’t think about every day.
“God forbid that we have to think about it every single day, but they help people so well”.
Mark Davis, lives in Oxford and is a local historian, he won an ox for the Lewis Carroll Society where they plan to keep the ox available for the public to see as it will be faces Christchurch, where Lewis Carroll studied
Mr Davis said there was also a very personal connection to the charity, he said: “A very dear friend of mine died of cancer some years ago and I went to Sobell House to see him.
“He wasn’t very conscious, but I read to him part of my book and he responded to that and recognised it.
“I’m getting slight goosebumps even talking about it now, but I have a very fond memory of that and of Sobell House”.
'Costs are rising'
Since 1976, Sobell House Hospice has provided compassionate care to adults with a life-limiting illness and supported their loved ones. At any given time, they care for around 650 people across Oxfordshire.
The Hospice is jointly funded by the NHS and the charity needs to raise around £3 million every year to help provide the care that they give.
Whilst they need to already raise millions of pounds, Sobell House will need to raise even more money in future as costs have been rising.
Beth Marsh is Director of Fundraising, she said: “Costs are rising because it’s rising, and the cost of living is rising, energy bills are rising, and wages are rising.
“Also, the need for our services is growing as people are living longer. They live with life limiting illnesses and so our services are needed by more people”.