Skydiving, walking on burning coals, cycling, rowing and even dancing, the Adver team led by example to raise our own £10,000 for the 160 Appeal. Here are some of the highlights of what the editorial, sales and advertising teams got up to

  •  DRAGON BOAT RACE: THE ADVER’S Where’s Wally? clad contenders were among more than 300 fundraisers vying for victory at the hotly-contested Dragon Boat Race last April.

    Despite their best efforts the 18-strong Adver team, called D’Arcy’s Drag-ons, was thrown out of the race after recording the longest time of the day at 1min 20 sec. But not all was lost as reporters and editors were awarded the Best Fancy Dress trophy and secured £600 in sponsorship.

    “We did our best and were very motivated but unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said team captain Scott D’Arcy. “The competition was fierce and it was clear from the first round that a miracle would have to happen for us to make it to the final. But we were doing it for the 160 Appeal and we had fun.”

  •  SKYDIVE and 24-hourwalk: THE ADVER team’s most successful fundraiser, Liz Mackley, allowed nothing to stand in her way in her attempt to secure £2,000 for the 160 Appeal.

    When she was told she would not be able to sign up to a skydive for the campaign unless she lost 20 kilos, she embarked on a strenuous exercise regime and diet and shed 3st in three months. She took the plunge at the end of August, as her personal trainer and emotional crutch Ronny Terry watched proudly.

    Looking for a new challenge and keen to show up her colleagues, two months later the now fitness-obsessed reporter settled for a 24-hour non-stop walk.

  •  PROSPECT’S BIG BIKE and 10K: TOGETHER Michelle Tompkins and Scott D’Arcy led the way at the Adver Towers, being first to sign up to a major physical challenge for the 160 Appeal.

    Scott’s enthusiasm could not be crushed and the former deputy news editor tackled the charity’s 10K run just two weeks after the launch of the campaign before hopping on his bicycle for the Big Bike, a gruelling 55km trail across the Ridgeway at the end of April. Overall he collected £260.

    Cycling novice Michelle joined Scott for the cycling race, covering around 30 miles. She said: “It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, and I ran the London Marathon a few years ago.

    Heavy rain had made the route extremely muddy and I seemed to spend more time up to my knees in mud pushing my bike than actually riding it.

    “I can’t tell you how relieved I was to finally reach the finish line.”

  •  STARLIGHT WALK: CLAD in neon leg-warmers and proudly touting glowsticks, a team of nine Adver staff rallied behind Prospect Hospice at the annual Starlight Walk.

    The group set off from Lainesmead Primary School in June 28 on their respective 10 and 15km moonlit strolls at the Wroughton charity’s largest fundraising event.

    They collected £500 between them.

  •  FIRE AND GLASS: IT takes more than burning coals and a path strewn with chipped glass to intimidate Louise Fernandes.

    The courageous Adver sales and marketing coordinator was among the dozen challengers who threw caution to the wind at Prospect Hospice’s daunting Fire and Glass Walk – raising £325 in the process.

    “I was a bit apprehensive about the glass but I was looking forward to the fire walk – it appealed to me for some reason,” said the fearless 50-year-old. “It was brilliant and we all did it twice. I really enjoyed it.”

    Louise was determined to complete each task at Wroughton’s Alexandra House in aid of the hospice which cared for her late mother, Joyce Hirons. “I lost my mum to stomach cancer and she spent a short time at Prospect Hospice,” she said. “It was liver cancer and then spread to her stomach. She was 61.”

  •  LET’S DANCE: HER experience of the glitzy ballroom world consisted purely of watching Strictly Come Dancing from the comfort of her sofa when features writer Marion Sauvebois signed up to Prospect Hospice’s Let’s Dance contest.

    The extent of the task was truly brought home a month into rehearsals, as she and partner Sean Cameron still struggled with basic salsa steps and coordination in general.

    Terrified of humiliating themselves, they performed their salsa number in front of 200 spectators at the Link Centre on November 28. Despite their fears, they did not miss a step and raised £300 for their efforts.

    “My goal was to complete the dance from start to finish without making a mistake – and we did,” said Marion. “My grandmother was placed in palliative care during rehearsals and it meant even more to me to be able to do this and help support people in need of care at the end of their lives.”

  •  160KM CYCLE: KEEN to do his bit for the 160 Appeal, media sales consultant and avid cyclist Joseph Theobald roped fellow Swindon Wheelers into covering 160km to the Severn Bridge.

    His noble idea soon turned into a nightmare for the group on July 26, whose members suffered six punctures and a broken chain between them. Thankfully the better-equipped club members had come armed with enough tools and spare chain links.

    After nearly four hours, the 19-strong team eventually approached the bridge. While the ride was much more taxing than they ever imagined, they were comforted in the knowledge they raised £1,000.

    “We had six punctures, three of which were attributable to one guy, Kev Poole,” said Joseph.

    The route’s level of difficulty took Joseph by surprise who, in hindsight, wished he had put in a few extra hours of long-distance training. “I didn’t really train for it. Subconsciously, I must have been determined to suffer for Prospect.”