Orega and Air Ambulance: One Year, One Partnership, One Shared Purpose

Celebrating our fundraising achievements to date, Orega is proud to have raised a total of £13,000 so far for our charitable partner, Air Ambulances UK. This milestone reflects the collective enthusiasm and generosity of our teams across the business, but it doesn't stop there! With plenty more fundraising initiatives on the horizon across all 25 Orega centres, we're excited to keep the fundraising spirit alive and continue making a meaningful difference to a cause that matters. If you'd like to get involved, you can donate on our JustGiving page.

Our fundraising highlights so far

Brew for a Crew Centre Event – May 2026

The fundraising got underway with our ‘Brew for a Crew’ centre-wide event. Complete with freshly brewed coffee, delicious cakes and plenty of treats, the event brought colleagues and clients together across all 25 Orega locations. A wave of client donations translated into £2,220 for the cause. Building on that momentum, we hosted the finish line at our Gatwick centre for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Marathon walk, welcoming the team back after five marathons in five days, racking up 131 miles in total. The final arrival brought the challenge to a close and set the pace for the fundraising events still to come.

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance walkers at the finish line outside The Beehive, our Gatwick centre

Charity Abseil with Akeem and Ellie – 16 July 2026

Desks were swapped for harnesses as Orega’s Ellie Davy, Customer Service Representative at Eighty Strand, and Akeem Yousaf, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at Head Office, took on an abseil down the striking atrium at Eighty Strand. With an impressive 147ft below them, the pair had the Orega Support Centre cheering them on as they made their descent. While certainly not your typical trip downstairs, the challenge marked another bold test to the year’s fundraising efforts.

Akeem and Ellie with their certificates after abseiling down the Eighty Strand atrium

Bristol Comedy Night – 3 September 2026

Set against the historic backdrop of the Bristol Old Vic, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity’s annual comedy fundraiser was a standout moment in our ongoing partnership. With the overall event driving £16,426 in donations, the evening brought together an eclectic mix of supporters, clients and friends of the charity. Orega's Regional Sales Managers, Adam Joyce and Amy Roberts, were joined by clients at 33 Colston Avenue, including representatives from Imagination Technology, We Do Technology and TeacherActive, making it a welcome change of scenery outside the usual working environment.

The Orega team and clients from 33 Colston Avenue at the Bristol Old Vic

Two Charity Runs – August 2026

Two runners, two races, and slightly ironically, two almost identical names. Abigail Howarth, Assistant Customer Service Manager at Broad Gate, took on the York 10K, crossing the finish line in 1:21:40. Meanwhile Abbigail Van Zyl, Regional Operations Manager in Scotland, went the extra mile with the Scottish Half Marathon, clocking 2:03:57. Between them, they’ve raised just over £650 for Air Ambulances UK Yorkshire & Scotland.

Reflecting on the challenge, Abigail Howarth said: “I won't pretend I was fully prepared. With a busy few months behind me, my training was limited, but I was determined to see it through.”

Team Abseil Down The Royal London Hospital – 11 September 2026

Members of the Orega team also took fundraising to new heights, completing a 17-floor helipad abseil from The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. Descending from Europe's highest rooftop helipad, the team faced the challenge head-on, producing some of the year’s strongest individual fundraising performances. Roy Ball, Customer Service Manager at Eighty Strand, raised £1,236, Juliet Newbold, Management Accountant at Head Office, banked £728, while clients Sam and Miles at Holborn Gate clocked up £713.

London to Brighton Bike Ride – 20 September 2026

Few rides are quite as synonymous with British cycling as the iconic London to Brighton. At 55 miles, it is no casual spin, and this year, four colleagues took on the challenge together, swapping the office for the open road and a long day in the saddle. The ‘Fantastic Four’ included Alan Pepper, CEO; David Kinnaird, COO; Ben Hutchen, Real Estate Director; and Stuart Burnett, Regional Operations Manager. Between them, they tackled the full distance from London to the Sussex coast, but there was one particularly unconventional feat of endurance: David Kinnaird completed the entire route on a Brompton, a bike better known for navigating city streets than conquering the road to Brighton.

On the road to Brighton

Newcastle Dragon Boat Race – 25 September 2026

Orega took to the River Tyne for Newcastle’s seventh annual Dragon Boat Race, sponsoring the two-day event which brought companies from across the region together in support of charity. With the iconic Tyne Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge as its backdrop, the event saw 28 teams race, competing for the Dragon Boat Champion trophy. The team were joined in the boat by our clients at Orega Newcastle, Qubic Group and Equity Watch, alongside friends from Naylors and the Great North Air Ambulance. A special shoutout goes to Qubic Group for their generous £1,000 donation in support of the cause, making a significant contribution to the fundraising efforts. The Orega team finished 16th overall and raised £1,550 for Great North Air Ambulance.

Across the wider event, a record 950 participants helped raise £42,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The charity was chosen in recognition of Sir Bobby Robson’s strong ties to the North East, helping to continue his legacy by supporting vital cancer research and improving treatment for patients across the region.

Team Orega on the Quayside, with the Tyne Bridge behind

Orega’s board of directors on the helipad with London’s Air Ambulance

Team Marathon Walk – 2 November 2026

Some of the Orega London Support Centre truly walked the talk. Taking on an incredible challenge across the scenic streets of London. The team came together to complete an impressive 26 miles, the equivalent of a full marathon, all in under 7 hours. Along the way, the team took in some of London's most iconic Landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Royal Albert Hall, making the walk even more memorable. The team was made up of colleagues across the business, including Mat Moore, Marketing Director; Scarlet Williams, Marketing Executive; Maddie Ashby, Sales Operations Assistant; Molly Simmonds, Senior Marketing Executive; Sophie Turnbull, Chief Revenue Officer; Daniel Parsons, Human Resources Director; and Michelle Whittock, Implementation and Procurement Manager. The team embraced the challenge together, demonstrating the collaborative spirit that is at the heart of Orega. It was a fantastic effort and brilliant example of putting words into action!.