OKA sponsorship

Supporting our members

Over the last five years the OKA has sponsored several OKs in their pursuit of a particular personal venture. To give you an idea of the initiatives we are keen to support, here are some recent examples:

George Farrer (OK 18) – Raising funds for Bliss

George ran the London Marathon for a charity close to his family’s heart. Bliss work towards ensuring that every premature or sick baby in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life. Additionally, Bliss provides support for parents during these challenging times. George raised over £3200 for this worthy cause. 

Catherine Fussell (OK 12) – Raising funds for the NSPCC

Catherine completed the 2023 London Marathon and raised over £3500 for the NSPCC. She wanted to run for a charity which she knew would benefit children and offer support to children who need it most. Catherine, who teaches at the Prep, also encouraged the Prep school children to get active and in the run-up to the Marathon the pupils managed to complete over 12 marathons!

Alex Pollard (OK 10) and Rosie Greening (OK 10) – Arctic Challenge

Alex Pollard (OK 10) and Rosie Greening (OK 10) embarked on an Arctic Endurance Challenge to raise £8,000 for the National Literacy Trust – a charity that gives disadvantaged children the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.

Charlie Gardner (OK 17) – Zanzibar VOS

Charlie Gardner (OK 17) embarked on an 11-week placement to Zanzibar with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) to help rehabilitate children with disabilities aged from one to 17. While Charlie worked in the community-based rehabilitation project he stayed with a local family learning much about the local culture and traditions. The OKA contributed towards the cost of Charlie’s trip.

Colin Lee (OK 87) – The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc for charity

Colin Lee (OK 87) ran the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc – a 105-mile circuit taking in France, Italy and Switzerland, with 10,000m of ascent and descent. The time limit for the event is 46 hours (meaning that most runners have to run through rwo nights) and Colin completed it in just under 42 hours. He ran the trail in aid of Fight for Sight and MS Society.

Kiri Saunders (OK 12) – Teaching in Honduras

Kiri Saunders (OK 12) moved to Honduras after completing her degree, to teach in Abundant Life Christian Schools. The OKA donated money towards basic resources – colouring pencils, books, paint, clothes, vitamin C tables – that Kiri took with her for the school and for a local orphanage.

Ed Williams (OK 05) – Oceans Seven Challenge

Ed Williams (OK 05) swam the Oceans Seven Challenge – a challenge that consisted of seven long-distance open-water swims. It included the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar. He completed the Gibralta Strait in April 2015 and in 2016 Ed completed a solo swim of the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland, raising £10,000 for Wateraid.

Jessica Coppins (OK 16) – Teaching in South Africa

Jessica Coppins (OK 16) spent a gap year teaching disadvantaged children in a rural community in South Africa with the Project Trust Charity. Project Trust require all their volunteers to achieve a certain level of fundraising before they go, and the OKA helped Jess reach her target.