Gearing up for the Vitality Big Half in aid of hospital funds
Individuals and teams working at the West Suffolk Hospital and the Newmarket Hospital are making final preparations and going through last minute training routines ahead of taking party in the Vitality Big Half.
They are all bidding to raise money for the My WiSH Charity which supports the work of the two hospitals.
And they are all hoping to complete the half marathon course in London, which takes place on Sunday, August 22, starting by Tower Bridge and finishing in Greenwich, passing through the four London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich.
Staff are running the 13 miles for the stroke unit, community cardiac rehab, the Butterfly Fund for palliative care, the Macmillan unit, colorectal surgery, Newmarket Community Hospital and the Forget-Me-Not Dementia appeal.
Kim Gaze, who works in the catering department, at Newmarket Community Hospital, is taking part and is hoping to raise the money to help patients eat together rather than from their bed spaces.
The cardiac rehab team comprising of Jodie Bosomworth, Simone Meldrum and Matt Lavers is running the event in the hope of raising money to purchase home monitoring equipment and devices to loan to patients in a bid to enable them to safely continue their recovery post cardiac event at home.
Simone said: “Like all NHS services we have had to adapt our service to meet the needs of our patients during these unprecedented times. Ensuring cardiac rehab is accessible is key.”
The stroke ward team of seven includes three staff nurses, three ward sisters and the ward manager.
They are Maria Musgrove, Hannah Marshall, Mylene Pagaduan, Becky Trede, Yasmin Echenique, Marthe Peralta and Rachel Herod and are running to raise money for the stroke unit.
Maria said: “We are so proud to be part of our patients journey every step of the way and if we can give just a small amount of the determination and dedication that our patients give in their journey after a stroke then we will be doing them proud.”
Sally Daniels, the fundraising manager, for My WiSH said: “We all know how amazing the staff are at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and, as they care for us all, it’s easy to forget that sometimes they are patients too or have loved ones receiving care.
“This means that, not only are they passionate about their own patients, but they often have an area of the Trust that is special to them.
“We asked if anyone wanted to run the Vitality Big Half for My WiSH Charity and were amazed at the response. On behalf of the charity, can I wish them all good luck this Sunday as they take on the Big Half. We are sure they will all smash it.”
Want to support our fabulous runners? Click the links to donate:
Kim Gaze, fundraising for Newmarket Community Hospital www.justgiving.com/kim-gaze1
Becky and Abbey, fundraising for the colorectal dept and the Macmillan unit www.justgiving.com/abbey-becks
Team Stroke, raising money for their stroke unit www.justgiving.com/strokeunitwsh
Team Community Cardiac Rehabilitation, fundraising for their dept www.justgiving.com/west-suffolk-community-cardiac-rehab-team
Guy Todd, supporting our general fund to support any area of the Trust www.justgiving.com/guytodd
Steph Ling, supporting the Macmillan unit www.justgiving.com/stephanie-ling1
Written by Russell Cook for My WiSH Charity