A national healthcare charity has thanked fundraisers for helping raise more than £67,000 for charity,

People across Berkshire participated in a 5k a day challenge in December to raise funds for charity Sue Ryder.

The December Daily Dash challenge was started in 2015 by husband-and-wife Jackie and Mark Smith, after Jackie’s dad, Mike, received care from a Sue Ryder hospice.

The fundraiser has now grown from 13 people raising £5,000 in the first year, to 499 people participating in 2022 raising more than £67,000 to support the charity’s vital palliative, neurological and bereavement support services.

Dash founders Jackie and Mark said: “A huge well done and thank you to everyone who pulled on their trainers and braved the unpredictable winter weather every day in December."

Those who took part in the challenge included Sue Ryder Nurses and healthcare assistants, doctors, occupational therapists, fundraisers, administrators and staff from the family support team.

Sara Hyett, who works in the people team at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, said: “I really enjoyed the December Daily Dash and found it was beneficial for not only my mental health, but also my overall fitness during the winter."