STEPPING HILL TEAM MAKE 10K RUN ONE TO REMEMBER!

Over thirty two members of staff from Stepping Hill Hospital crossed the finish line at the recent Big Stockport 10k Run raising over £1,000 towards much needed funds being used to help patients living with dementia as well as their families and carers whilst they are in hospital.

Over the past year, Tyrone Roberts, Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Stepping Hill has been heading the hospital’s fund raising activity for the cause and they have already raised enough money for a reminiscence pod ‘a room to remember’ which is currently based on the elderly care ward E2. It’s a special area for dementia patients containing lots of memorabilia from the 1950’s, including a television and a radio which look old but actually have all the latest technology to enable patients to reminisce and watch DVD’s of memorable events and classic films from the era.

The 4^th Annual Big Stockport Run organised by Life Leisure to help encourage the community to get more active and take part in a local mass participation event, also provides local people with an opportunity to help raise money for wonderful causes in Stockport as well as further afield should they choose. Tyrone and the team from Stepping Hill saw it as a great opportunity to support the local event and had no hesitation in really getting behind it. He commented, “It’s a great event and one which brings the whole community together and of course we wanted to include it as part of our fundraising activity. Staff, some who had never run before were really enthusiastic, they have been training together and supporting each other. It is a great way for people to get fitter, build relationships and fundraise all at the same time!”

He added, “We are thrilled that donations are still coming in, we want to raise even more money so that we can add more memory rooms and facilities for our dementia patients creating a therapeutic and calming environment which they can share with family and friends.”

Neil Bardsley, Sport Development Manager at Life Leisure said “Here at Life Leisure we are all about our local community their health and well-being and this is one of the main reasons why we started the Big Stockport Run four years ago. It’s all about inspiring people to keep fit and active in a motivational way. We are delighted with the on-going support the Big Run continues to receive and applaud all the runners who were also raising money for charity. The team from Stepping Hill is a shining example of what can be achieved together, as they continue to lead the way in caring for their patients affected by dementia, as well as raising awareness about the disease.

I want to congratulate everyone that took, the day was a huge success and we look forward to next year’s Big Run.”

Donations can still be made to www.justgiving.com/tyrone.roberts@stockport.nhs.uk

For more information about Life Leisure visit www.lifeleisure.net or call 0161482 0900