Staff to tackle Wolf Run to raise funds
Date of release: 26 February 2024
Brave staff are to tackle a mud run this summer to raise money to improve care for some of Wolverhampton’s sickest young patients – and achieve a Black Country first.
Staff taking part, from left: Dr Ahmed Saad, Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Victoria Hoptroff, Consultant Paediatrician, Dr James Davies, Paediatric Registrar, Dr Minoth Kanagaratnam, Consultant Paediatrician, Marie-Claire Ramsbottom, Paediatric Sister, Nicola Bradshaw, A21 Senior Sister, Dr Ash Holt, Consultant Paediatrician, Antonia Hallal, A23 Senior Sister, and Ambra Righetti, Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Some 20 colleagues on the Children’s Ward and the Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) at New Cross Hospital – part of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) – have signed up for the 5k Wolf Run in Stamford Hall, Leicestershire on 8 June.
The gruelling challenge involves wading through more than three miles of thick mud and water, plus negotiating lung-sapping obstacles.
But it’s all for a good cause as the group is trying to raise to fund extra equipment for the newly established Level Two Paediatric High Dependency Unit – the first in the Black Country to do so.
This will allow staff to look after sicker patients closer to their home.
Ambra Righetti, Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner, is one of those taking part and insists everyone is up for the challenge.
“We’ve got Consultants, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Staff Nurses, Senior Nurses, Matrons and Ward Managers who have agreed to take part, so there’s a real mix of colleagues involved,” said Ambra, who is training for the event by playing regular tennis and running.
“We’re a group of people of ages of ranging from 23 up to mid-50s, so there is a range of fitness and some people will walk while others will run but it will be a real team effort.
“A couple of Nurses have done a mud run before but that was back in 2012 or 2013. We just want to make sure everyone is alive at the end!
“There are 15 obstacles that you have to go around or jump over, a water slide and you have to flip tyres, so it’s going to be so much fun and it’s such a nice bunch of people.
“The cause is much more serious. We’d like to raise money for more equipment and we’d love to be able to afford an ultrasound machine for difficult intravenous access, which would cost up to £20,000.”
Ambra was one of a group of Children’s Ward colleagues who raised £2,500 for equipment by completing the Birmingham 10K.
Amanda Winwood, The RWT Charity Development Manager, said: “Well done to the staff on Children’s Ward. This is going to be a real challenge but hopefully a lot of fun too!
“I wish them all the best and it’s great to see them doing this for our youngest, sickest patients.”
A JustGiving page has been set up so people can donate to the fundraiser, via JustGiving - A21 paeds team is up for the next challenge!
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
