28 September 2017

In just over a week’s time Simon Wright, our Chief Executive, will jet off to tackle his epic charity trek to add funds for a new MRI scanner.

Simon on a training hike in preparation for his adventure.

Simon will tackle Sicily’s “Mighty Four” volcanoes – Stromboli, Vulcano, Salina and culminating at the world famous Mount Etna.

Simon will undertake the epic trek in support of the MRI Appeal set up by the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to mark their 50th Anniversary.

During his adventure, he will trek around 16,000ft, the equivalent of climbing Mount Snowdon more than four times or 12 trips up the Wrekin!

Simon, who is a keen walker and runner, is hoping to raise around £5,500 for the MRI Appeal. He said: “Fundraising groups like the League of Friends are incredibly important to us, and raise incredible sums of money every year to help us purchase equipment to improve the quality of care we provide for our patients.

“I wanted to do something to say thank you to them and to play some small part in helping those fundraising efforts. Challenging myself in this way seemed like the perfect way to do it.”

Simon is funding the trip himself and will be using some of his annual leave to complete the challenge, which includes tackling two active and two dormant volcanoes.

Mount Etna, which was used as the backdrop for the set-piece lightsaber duel between Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in the Star Wars film Revenge of the Sith, has erupted already this year, although its last major eruption was in 1992. Stromboli’s was in 2009.

Simon has been preparing for his trek by running, walking and sessions in the gym. He said: “My training regime includes three gym sessions a week to build up back strength for the weight I will be carrying. This is mainly water, which is about 15kg for about six hours walking each day.”

Iain Gilmour, Vice Chairman of the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said: “We are extremely grateful to Simon for undertaking this amazing challenge to support our £1 million appeal to fund a new MRI Scanner for SaTH.”

“It is a very public endorsement of the League’s efforts to ensure that our Trust has the very best equipment in order to offer the latest advances in technology to the patients of Shropshire.

“In this, our 50th Anniversary, we hope that this great fundraising effort will also spur others into supporting the Appeal in any way they can”

To sponsor Simon, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Simon-Wright-Sath