Most people have made a New Year’s resolution or two, but not many commit themselves to take on a physical endurance challenge with little to no running experience. Fewer still sign up for nine such events including marathons, triathlons and ultra-runs, yet one man did exactly this in support of St Oswald’s Hospice.
We are delighted to celebrate our superstar supporter Andy Greenwell following the completion of his epic Cloud 9 Challenge.
Over the course of seven months, Andy, Owner of National Building and Maintenance Solutions, has completed an astounding 665.5 miles (1071km), taking on endurance challenges from Scotland to Vietnam, finishing back on home soil with the iconic Great North Run.
When creating the Cloud 9 challenge, Andy selected events based in areas that held personal significance and that were unique.
Reflecting on his series of events, Andy said, “I’d always wanted to visit Valencia, so that was an easy choice. Vietnam was a bit of a crazy choice but I absolutely loved it! And finishing off with the Great North Run was a no-brainer.”
To date, Andy has raised £11,000 through his Cloud 9 Challenge, all for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Andy explained, “We (NB&MS) were involved in renovating the kitchen in the Children and Young Adults Unit, and through that, we began to see the difference this adapted space would make to the young people using it.
Whilst I don’t have a personal connection to the charity, my colleagues and I could see first hand how special the Hospice is, and how vital their services are to those that need them.”
Since 2023, Andy and NB&MS have supported St Oswald’s through events and initiatives such as our annual Corporate Golf Day and Giving Day.
In addition, they are members of the Hospice’s Better Together Business Club, a philanthropic club aiming to fund the annual salaries of two hospice nurses with opportunities to work together and make a difference in a range of ways.
Jill Hackworth, Fundraiser at St Oswald’s Hospice, said, “We are so proud of Andy and in awe of everything he has done this year – it’s a phenomenal achievement and we couldn’t be more grateful to him for choosing to support St Oswald’s in this way.
A huge thank you from everyone here at the Hospice, and to everyone who has supported you along the way. You are amazing.”
“However, I know that the money raised from this challenge will go directly towards supporting patients and their families, so it’s worth the physical hell, because I know it will all make a difference,” added Andy.
As he crossed the finished line at the Great North Run, Andy received a hero’s welcome as he reached the St Oswald’s Hospice tent in the charity village – and the celebrations didn’t stop there.
The following week, NB&MS hosted an event – Benwell Festival – which included an evening of musical entertainment, where Andy was able to share more about his Cloud 9 experience and his wife Lisa played a series of photos and videos to sum up his experience.
Looking ahead, Andy has no real plans to slow down, having already signed up for the 2026 Castle to Castle Ultra – a 100 mile trail from Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland to Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
Congratulations Andy, and thank you again from everyone here. You really are an absolute super star.
