Graf UK took part in the Accumulator Challenge in 2019–20 and used some very creatives techniques to raise nearly £7,500 for Katharine House Hospice!  

The staff at the Banbury-based firm wanted to support the hospice as the charity is very close to the hearts of the people at Graf UK. A number of employees have had family and close friends receive excellent care from the hospice team. This was the motivation that drove the team to excel in the challenge and scoop the Most Creative Fundraising Award by a business.  

To kick off the challenge and raise initial funds, the team held a pub quiz for the staff, family and friends, and during December, they held a German Christmas Market at their Banbury office. With proceeds from the first two events, the team then had enough funds to launch the Great Graf Expedition!  

The expedition was a Top Gear/Grand Tour style event in which two employees, Jack and James, travelled to every GRAF location in Europe (eight in total) in a 1994 VW golf. The car cost £350 and the tour took 12 days, between 3 and14 February 2020, where Jack and James visited Graf offices in Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Germany, France and Spain to name but a few. The drivers raised funds through donations and business sponsorship on the car. The Golden EcoBloc maxx crate, which sat on top of the car throughout the tour, still sits in the Graf UK Banbury reception as a memento of their epic trip and fundraising triumph. Watch James and Jack on their adventures during The Great Graf Expedition on YouTube.

Callum Vance-Poole at Graf UK was heavily involved in all aspects of the challenge and said: "The best thing about the Accumulator Challenge is allowing people to think of creative ways to raise money for Katharine House. We could have done easy events or common fundraising activities but we had the freedom to think differently and came up with the expedition and the Christmas market."

Taking part in the challenge helped to bring the company together to achieve a common goal and the whole team were all aligned to raise as much money as possible. Callum reaffirmed how the staff embraced the challenge: "the Accumulator Challenge is a great way to bring your team together and unite the whole business, whilst doing a great thing for a great local charity." 

So, will the team at Graf UK be taking part in the 2023–24 Accumulator Challenge? "Yes! 100%! We can’t wait to raise as much money as possible, plus we invite any company to try and beat us." 

Does your team have what it takes to steal the Most Creative Fundraising Award from Graf UK? If so, register now!  

Join the Accumulator Challenge NOW!