Charity, Purbeck | Posted on February 6th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset hospital needs help to fund new ventilator

Tackle the Jurassic Coast Challenge to help Dorset hospital charity

Dorset County Hospital Charity is asking people to take on the Jurassic Coast Challenge to help raise £30,000 towards a new ventilator.

A local hospital charity is seeking to raise £30,000 for a new ventilator and it is asking people to help by taking on the Jurassic Coast Challenge in May.

The ventilator is for the new Emergency Department which is currently under construction at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) in Dorchester.

the Jurassic Coast Challenge takes place on 16–17 May, and participants can choose to tackle 100km, 75km, 50km, 25km, a Weymouth Marathon distance, or the 10km Bridport Loop. Locations start between Corfe Castle and Bridport. DCH Charity will refund the registration fee for anyone who raises over £250 at least two weeks before the event takes place.

Last year, fundraisers taking part in the challenge raised £10,000 for the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, with participants ranging from members of staff from DCH, to community and corporate teams and individuals.

The T-Rex team from construction company Tilbury Douglas, who are building the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, also took part last year and raised £737 towards the appeal.

Pheobe Gale, social value manager from Tilbury Douglas, said: “Completing the Jurassic Ultra Challenge as part of the Tilbury TRex’s for the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal was a brilliant experience. The DCH Charity team were there to cheer us off in the morning, and having their support throughout kept moral high, even up the steep coastline!

“I had the company of my colleagues and my dad which made for a great team experience. I loved being able to challenge myself personally with the 62km route, all while enjoying our beautiful coastline and raising vital funds for the appeal.”

DCH Charity Head of Fundraising Jodi Hibbard said: “It has never been more vital for us to fundraise for DCH than right now. The construction of the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit is really starting to take shape, and equipment and facilities that go beyond the NHS budget will really make a positive difference to staff, patients and loved ones using these services at the hospital.

“DCH Charity is celebrating its 30th anniversary of fundraising to support staff and patients at DCH, and we’d love to celebrate this huge milestone by reaching our £30,000 target to help pay for life-saving equipment, such as a new ventilator. We are so grateful to all of our fundraisers and look forward to supporting those signing up to the Jurassic Coast Challenge this year.”

To sign up for the challenge, visit https://dchcharity.org.uk/get-involved/events-and-challenges/ or https://www.ultrachallenge.com/jurassic-coast-challenge. To contact the charity with any questions, email charity@dchft.nhs.uk.