Publish date: 8 May 2026
This year, Mersey Care turns 25; a huge milestone and a moment to do something a little bit special. As the Trust’s dedicated charity, we’re marking this big birthday in the best way we know how: by coming together to raise funds, create impact and make a real difference across our communities.
To honour 25 years of care, we’ve set ourselves two bold goals – and we need your help to achieve them.
Our big birthday goal: raising £25,000
Our first goal is to raise at least £25,000 through Mersey Cares fundraising events – a goal that we believe is truly achievable if we harness the collective power of our incredible Mersey Care staff.
Reaching this target will allow us to fund more care-enhancing projects, supporting patients, service users accessing Mersey Care services as well as our hardworking NHS staff. The funds raised help provide those vital ‘extras’ that sit beyond typical NHS funding – the improvements, comforts and opportunities that can mean the world to someone facing challenging circumstances, enhance recovery, and support people to live healthier lives.
25 FREE challenge places – sign up before the end of May!
To help us reach our £25,000 target, we’re offering 25 FREE challenge places for staff – making now the perfect time to get involved.
These free places are available across a range of exciting team and individual challenges, giving you the chance to push yourself, try something new and support Mersey Care at the same time.
We’re also offering subsidised places on many other events, opening the door to experiences that may otherwise feel financially out of reach – such as our Mersey Cares skydive, with just a £70 deposit compared to around £400 for a non‑charity jump.
Drumroll… our 25th anniversary challenge offers
Our 25 free places include our flagship Mersey Cares fundraiser, the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge as well as a number of our new fundraising events for 2026.
10 free places – Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
Our flagship event returns this September, and we’re hoping to get 25 people signed up to make it our biggest fundraiser yet. With the event already offered at a subsidised rate of £40 per person, this free‑place offer makes it an even more incredible opportunity. Read more…
- 5 free places – Tough Mudder (new!) – 10 and 11 October 2026
Newly added for our anniversary year, Tough Mudder promises a fun, muddy and unforgettable day tackling one of the UK’s most famous obstacle courses with colleagues. Read more…
- 5 free places – Inflatable Obstacle Challenge (new!)
Ever wanted to jump on the bouncy castle at a fun day? Now’s your chance. Choose from 5k or 15k distances and take on a course packed with giant inflatables. Read more…
- 5 free places – Alton Towers Running Events
Pick your challenge with a 5k, 10k or Half Marathon, then enjoy a brilliant team day out at Alton Towers and make the most of the rides afterwards.
All places are completely free – all we ask is that you help us celebrate by fundraising and supporting the work of Mersey Cares. Read more…
How we became part of the Mersey Care story
What began in 2001 as a reorganisation of local NHS services has grown into a Trust providing physical and mental health care to around 1.4 million people across the North West – and beyond, always with patients, service users, carers and communities at its heart.
Our charity became part of that story in 2020, established to support the unprecedented pressures on health services during the COVID‑19 pandemic. In 2023, our dedicated charity team was formed to continue and grow this vital role – working alongside the Trust to support health and wellbeing in ways that go beyond typical NHS funding.
Fundraise for what matters most to you
While fundraising enables us to bring projects to life in areas that need it most, it’s also now possible to fundraise specifically for your own service provided it meets the criteria to enhance patient care. This means you can help bring projects to life that directly benefit your team, your service and the people you care for every day.
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Can we fill all 25 places by the end of May?
We’re asking one simple question: can we get all 25 free places snapped up by the end of May?
If you’ve been thinking about taking on a challenge, now is the perfect time. Celebrate Mersey Care’s 25th birthday, push yourself, and help us make a difference across Cheshire and Merseyside!
