5 May 2021

A team which has contributed to the UK’s efforts to tackle coronavirus is to undertake a 10 mile walk to one of the ‘modern wonders of Wales’ to raise money for a charity which benefits patients and staff at Shropshire’s two acute hospitals.

Kelly Hard

The Research and Innovation Team at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) will be walking from Llangollen to the iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to raise money for SaTH Charity.

The walk will take place on 20 May, which is International Clinical Trials Day. It was originally supposed to take place last September, but was postponed as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

The team has been in the headlines for its role in the trial of the steroid dexamethasone, which was shown to reduce deaths amongst patients with severe respiratory complications caused by coronavirus. The team also enrolled hundreds of patients into clinical trials to learn more about the virus.

On 20 May, around 15 members of the team will set off from Llangollen to cover the tricky route to Pontcysyllte and back. The money they raise will go back to their department to continue to fund their vital research work.

To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/team/Teamsathresearch

Kelly Hard, Research and Innovation Manager at SaTH, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, said: “The Research and Innovation Team is dedicated to delivering research projects which meet the needs of our community and the people we serve.

“We conduct research in areas such as oncology, stroke, diabetes, cardiology, gastroenterology, reproductive health, neurology, and paediatrics to name but a few.

“All money raised will be invested into research at the Trust to provide more patients with the opportunity to contribute.

“Not only do we conduct our own research but we contribute to lots of nationally funded projects. We have been offering our patients the opportunity to participate in the COVID-19 research that is helping to find a treatment. We will be participating in national vaccine studies along with antibody testing for COVID-19.

“We are passionate about changing and improving the options available to our community through research, so please contribute to our JustGiving page and give something back to help answer the unknowns about those health conditions.”