More than £32,000 has been raised following a Rainbow Run - 'Herfordshire's most colourful fun run' - in aid of East and North Herts Hospitals' Charity yesterday.
The event took place at Ridlins Athletics Stadium in Stevenage to raise money for projects that support patients, families and staff at the four hospitals the charity supports: Hertford County Hospital, Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City.
Over 400 people took part in the family-friendly run with the youngest entrant being just under two years old.
The event was officially opened by Deputy Mayor of Stevenage, Jim Brown, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust CEO, Adam Sewell-Jones and charity chair and non-executive director of the NHS Trust, Dr David Buckle.
As well as NHS staff from the trust, runners included former patients and families who took part to thank a department in the hospital for the care they had given.
Roxann and Alistair from Biggleswade took part to raise funds to refurbish the parents' bedrooms on the neonatal unit at Lister Hospital.
Roxann said: "Alistair and I were inspired to get a few teams together for the Rainbow Run after our son, Alvin, was born prematurely earlier this year and spent a couple of weeks on the neonatal unit.
"We are immensely grateful for the care he received and wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”
Alistair added: “It has been a fantastic day. It was lots of fun getting covered in paint and we're pleased to have been able to raise some money to help fund improvements to the bedrooms on the neonatal unit.”
Beth McNeil, head of fundraising for East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came along and supported our second Rainbow Run.
“It was a brilliant, fun-filled day and we’re thrilled to have raised over £32,000 to fund projects across all our hospitals.
“From the neonatal bedrooms and children’s ward garden appeals to projects supporting our patients living with dementia, we’ve had runners raising funds for nearly every area of the hospital.
"It’s been lovely to hear their stories and see everyone supporting our wonderful NHS. We can’t wait for next year!
“We would like to thank our fantastic sponsors: Walter Cooper, Raymond James, Shires Funeral Directors, Caremark Stevenage and North Herts, Avocado Properties Stevenage, HR Initiatives and Extreme Scaffolding. Thank you all so much for helping us put on such a great event.”
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