Thu, 06 Jun 2025 | Charity


They say you should walk 10,000 steps a day—what about 46,000? To fundraise for The Cowshed, the marketing team challenged themselves to walk to each of our offices across the Thames Valley district on Friday, 6th June.

Who is The Cowshed?


The Cowshed is our 2025 charity partner of the year. They support individuals and families facing hardship by providing clean, quality clothing and essentials. Everything from kitchen starter packs for people moving into emergency or temporary accommodation to school uniforms, bedding, toiletries, baby care, winter coats, and more.

They aim to offer people high-quality clothing and essentials during a personal crisis rather than worn-out or damaged pieces. The Cowshed has a crafts group to recycle unwanted items and a prom borrowing service, so young people don't miss out on creating special memories.

The charity works across Berkshire, helping 100-150 people weekly. It was our privilege to support them and their work, especially knowing how much time and effort the team puts in.

But that's not to say the challenge didn't have its difficulties...

Two Teams, One Goal: A 21-Mile Trek to The Cowshed HQ


Splitting into two, one team (TikTok) started at our Maidenhead branch and walked to Reading, Winnersh and Wokingham. The other (Dial-up) began at Aldershot and walked to Farnborough, Sandhurst, Bracknell and Warfield.

Once they covered their offices, the final goal was to see which team could walk to The Cowshed HQ first. Team TikTok had a 21-mile route with a 719ft incline, while team Dial-up had a 21-mile route with a 535ft incline.

Although the rain settled, the challenge presented many difficulties, from leg pain to GPS misdirection. Team TikTok had the edge with navigation—a straight walk down the A308 to Reading while Dial-up had to meander through woodlands and multiple turns to reach Farnborough and Sandhurst.

If it seems one team had an advantage, TikTok had a 5.5-hour stretch before reaching their first pit stop, while Dial-up was treated to water within a couple of hours of their walk. (They also managed to get free doughnuts at Crowthorne).

Team spirit fluctuated throughout. Some of us got leg cramps midway while others began to get headaches. We regularly had water breaks but tried to keep walking and stay focused. It was all worth it when we reached the finish line and were reminded why we took on the challenge.

Who won the race?


The teams set off at 8:45 am. Seven hours later, the winners reached The Cowshed entrance at 4:30 pm. Competition remained close; who could claim victory?

With a 30-minute lead, team TikTok took the lead and won the race.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to help us fundraise. Your support means we've added £300 to our Cowshed Just Giving page.

Getting involved


Prospect is on a mission to raise £12,000 for the charity this year. So far, we've collected Easter eggs, hosted a quiz night, volunteered at their HQ and had our Managing Director run the London Marathon.

At the time of writing, we've raised £4,610, which is 38% of the way there.

If you want to get involved with The Cowshed, you can:

  • Donate funds (£10 provides a pack of underwear, £25 for basic hygiene products, £60 for a family to have bedding, £70 for a baby care pack).
  • Follow their social media - they regularly share workshops, events and activities you can take part in.
  • Donate items to their HQ in Wokingham