A teenage girl from Stockport is running the Manchester 10K Run in a show of thanks for the care she received at Stepping Hill Hospital, and in doing so has scored an amazing fundraising success.
Ella Willard,16, from Cheadle Hulme, fundraising together with her sister Ruth, hoped to raise £1000 in sponsorship for the run. They have now raised well over twice this amount and the donations are still coming.
The fundraising is in thanks for the care, treatment and support hospital staff gave Ella and her family through a frightening time. Ella has a rare complicated bowel disorder, and in August last year this took a severe turn for the worse which saw her rushed to Stepping Hill Hospital’s A&E. Ella had to undergo serious emergency surgery, followed by over two weeks on the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Ella will be running the Manchester 10K Run. Ruth is unfortunately two months too young to join the Manchester run, so has instead set herself the task of running as far as she can over three months instead in support of her sister.
Their mum Anna said
Ella said “I’m not naturally athletic and am not particularly enjoying my training but I wanted to say thank you to the hospital for all the care they gave me. I am also grateful to my family for all their support as well as those who have sponsored me as it has encouraged me to keep going and persevere with the training. Finishing the 10 k course will be very significant for me and I’m really excited about it.”
Ella and Ruth’s fundraising fund currently stands at over £2500. Anyone who wants to donate can still do so HERE
Donations will be split between Stepping Hill Hospital’s ICU, and its Treehouse children’s unit.
Record T Level work placements to be available to Greater Manchester students 
Regional mayors launch new partnership to support Peak District 
Trafford and Stockport College Group celebrates inspiring GCSE achievements