Posted on 27 October 2026
Eight arthroplasty surgeons from The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) have raised £3,500 for the League of Friends.
During the summer, the team successfully completed an epic 2,000-mile road trip across Europe, raising a total of £7,000 for two charities. The funds were split equally between the hospital Friends and Lila’s Legacy.
The arthroplasty surgeons, joined by four theatre representatives from MatOrtho and Johnson & Johnson, completed the five-day Alpine Challenge, which saw six teams travel through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium in cars purchased for £2,000 or less.
The League of Friends at the Oswestry-based hospital raises funds to support patients, staff and visitors. The money raised will go directly towards enhancing the facilities and care provided at RJAH.
Mr Rob Banerjee, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “The work carried out by the League of Friends is pivotal in supporting a positive patient experience at RJAH.
“From funding the added extras, such as toiletries, to state-of-the-art equipment like the focused shockwave therapy machine – the charity’s impact can be felt across the whole hospital, and we’re delighted to have been able to raise such a substantial amount for them.”
The adventure was not without its challenges – along the way, teams experienced mechanical breakdowns, cars losing power and even almost running out of fuel.
Despite the setbacks, everyone completed the challenge, although one team faced a final hurdle when their car suffered a mechanical issue while boarding the train back from France, resulting in an unexpected taxi ride from Folkestone before being reunited with their car a week later.
Mr Ben Burston, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and fellow organiser, said: “Without doubt, this is my favourite thing I’ve done since joining RJAH almost 14 years ago. It was an incredible experience to share with such a fantastic group of people, and I don’t think any of us will forget it anytime soon.
“It was about working together, taking everything in our stride and enjoying the adventure, and it’s something I’d recommend to anyone given the opportunity.”
Victoria Sugden, Friends CEO, said: “We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional team of surgeons here at RJAH.
“Their skill, dedication and commitment to their patients are already very special – and the fact that they have gone above and beyond to support the hospital through the League of Friends makes this even more wonderful.
“Raising £3,500 is a fantastic achievement, and we’re enormously grateful for their generosity, enthusiasm and continued commitment to making a difference for our patients.”
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