A HOOK-BASED company has raised £1,000 for Ark Cancer Charity.

The Whiteoaks International Step Challenge saw 43 staff, family and even pets getting involved to reach the target in just 28 days — completing 9,377,160 steps and a distance of nearly 5,000 miles.

Merv Rees, Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee and renowned liver cancer surgeon, said: “Thank you to everyone at Whiteoaks for taking on this formidable Step Challenge. Team Whiteoaks are great champions of Ark, and this is another significant show of support. Well done to everyone who took part.”

Tara Williams, Whiteoaks HR manager, added: “One of our continuing aims has been employee wellness, keeping staff healthy, happy and engaged, which is especially important now. We thought that a great way to boost our wellbeing would be to keep physically active, set ourselves a target, and of course, have a fundraising goal.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have reached this milestone and once again donate to such a worthy cause in our local community.”

Whiteoaks has been supporting the charity since 2019 helping to raise money for various initiatives, including its annual Ark Day event to raise funds for a dedicated cancer support centre at Basingstoke hospital.