Hospital staff make final preparations for London Marathon

28 March 2019

Three members of staff at the Trust which runs Shropshire’s acute hospitals are making their final preparations for next month’s London Marathon.

Nicola Bishton, Charlotte Worrall and Anne Ridgway from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) will all be taking part in the iconic 26-mile race, which will take place on 28 April.

Nicola, a resuscitation officer at SaTH, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, will be raising money for St John Ambulance. To boost her fundraising, Nicola has been teaching CPR in the community.

She said: “I applied to raise money for St John Ambulance mainly because of my background. I previously worked as a staff nurse in A&E and currently work as the Resuscitation Officer.

“This level of exposure to emergencies has only highlighted the importance learning CPR in the communities. Supporting St John Ambulance will hopefully allow for more training to continue and that will result in more lives being saved.

“St John works alongside the NHS in responding to emergencies, helping to take pressure off our emergency services.”

Nicola began running in 2016 after entering the 2017 Shrewsbury 10K. She has set up an online donation page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicola-ijewsky1

Donations can also be made by phone by texting “NISJ £5” to 70070 to donate £5.

Charlotte, a Breast Imaging Data-Coordinator at RSH, will be raising money for the British Lung Foundation in memory of her nan, Gwen Parker.

She said: “I’m running for the British Lung Foundation due to losing my nan last year. She had a very short but courageous battle with lung cancer and it really hit home how awful this disease is.

“The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity looking after our lungs so I wanted to help to raise money.”

Charlotte, has been running for about five years and has taken part in the Shrewsbury and Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathons as well as the Shawbury 10km.

She said: “I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and am looking forward to enjoying the atmosphere and getting across the finishing line.”

She has set up an online donation page for anyone wanting to sponsor her, which can be found at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlotteWorrall1

Ann, a Pharmacy worker at PRH, is running to raise money for the Severn Hospice.

Ann said: “In 2019 the Hospice turns 30 and I will be 50. To mark this milestone I want to do something that challenges me and helps to raise money for a local charity that is very close to my heart.

“Since the hospice opened its doors in 1989 my family and friends have been on the receiving end of the wonderful care and support given to both patients and families. Both my grandad and my uncle received superb care at the hospice and were made comfortable in their time of need.

“My work in the Pharmacy Department also brings me into contact with the Severn Hospice. Since applying for my place last April both my godmother and former work colleague Julie Dawe, who many members of staff at PRH will remember, passed away at the hospice which is why I now want to smash my fundraising target.”

Ann started running five years ago.

She said: “I’m no hare and the thought of being on my feet for more than six hours terrifies me but I know I can make it to the finish line.”

Ann has set up a Virgin Money Giving Page for donations at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AnnRidgway1