Obstacle course fun raises £12,420 for sick babies at Basingstoke Hospital
A family-friendly obstacle challenge near Basingstoke will fund a life-saving neonatal transport system, allowing 250 fragile babies to be moved safely each year. The Hampshire Medical Fund event combines mud, laughter and heartfelt charity on June 14.
An obstacle course challenge promising laughter, mud and teamwork will raise £12,420 for life-saving neonatal equipment at Basingstoke Hospital. The Great Adventure Challenge, organised by the Hampshire Medical Fund, takes place at Dummer Down Farm near Basingstoke on Sunday, June 14.
The event’s sole target is the Atom Neonatal Transport Incubator’s Shuttle System, a £12,420 device designed to move premature and critically ill babies within the hospital safely. Current transfers risk temperature drops and accidental dislodgements of life-support tubes, but the new system stabilises heat and secures vital connections during every journey.
Key Details
- ✅ 📅 June 14, 2025 — Event date at Dummer Down Farm
- ⚡ 👶 250 babies — Annual beneficiaries at Basingstoke Hospital
- 💡 💷 £12,420 — Cost of the Shuttle System for the incubator
"This isn’t just another fun day out," said Lucy Liddell, charity director of the Hampshire Medical Fund. "It’s about giving our tiniest patients the safest possible transfers when every second counts." She emphasised that the Hampshire Medical Fund, founded in 1981 by the late Earl of Carnarvon, fills gaps in NHS budgets for state-of-the-art equipment across Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover hospitals.
| Aspect | Current Transfer | With Shuttle System |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature Stability | Risk of drop during transport | Controlled environment maintained |
| Ventilator Tubes | Accidental dislodgement possible | Secure and monitored |
| Maternal Bonding | Rarely possible | Safe visits to maternity ward |
The obstacle course is non-competitive and designed for groups of up to four people, blending walking, rope crawls, cargo nets, monkey bars and balance runs. Each team concludes with a 50-metre water slide and a colour run finale. Open to children aged six and above, every team must include at least one adult aged 18 or over—ideal for families, friends or work colleagues.
💡 Pro Tip
Register as a team before May 30 to secure your preferred start time and avoid last-minute queues. Entry costs £35 per person, with group discounts available for teams of four.
Over the past decade, the Hampshire Medical Fund has purchased more than 165 pieces of critical medical equipment across the region. The charity’s reach extends beyond incubators—it has funded ultrasound machines, neonatal monitors and surgical tools that NHS budgets often overlook.
📋 By The Numbers
- 1981 — Year Hampshire Medical Fund was established
- 165 — Pieces of NHS equipment funded in the last 10 years
- £35 — Entry fee per person
- 18+ — Minimum adult age required per team
Registration is open at hampshiremedicalfund.org/events. Organisers are urging local families, schools and businesses to sign up, warning that spaces are limited and the fundraising goal is steep. Every penny raised stays in Hampshire, ensuring local babies receive the highest standard of care when time and temperature are everything.
- Register a team — Groups of up to four can sign up online
- Train lightly — Focus on balance and core strength for the course
- Bring a towel — Water slide and muddy obstacles are guaranteed