Stephen's campaign for St Cuthberts Hospice

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

 
As some of you may know I have just turned 49yrs old, so as a treat I have decided to challenge myself this year in readiness for my 50th next year.  In my wisdom I have signed up for the Des Sables marathon which means I get a nice 7 day or so ‘holiday’ in nice sunny Morocco.  It’s dubbed the toughest race on earth.  I mean, how hard can it be…. I play rugby for the mighty Sedgefield Saxons.  You want to try and run around that field for 80min…. well I say run.  Anyway, all going well with training etc I will be running the race in April 2020 two weeks or so after turning 50.  The wife is contemplating taking additional life insurance out on me!  Just to make things more interesting my 20yr old son has decided to join me, and here I thought I would have a week to myself with total peace and quiet.  https://marathondessables.co.uk/ 

Running the equivalent of 6 marathons across the Sahara desert in 6 days would be ‘fun’, but I wanted something good to come out of the challenge and pain.  I have therefore dedicated this challenge to raising funds for St Cuthbert’s Hospice.  Our family have recently used the services of a hospice in South Africa where sadly my Mom in-law Jacqui passed away in November last year after battling cancer for several years. The family still talk about the phenomenal people that work in hospices across the world in very difficult circumstances and do everything to try and make it a positive and as happy experience as possible, making the patient as comfortable as possible and offering family and friends respite and comfort throughout. It costs about £2,300 to provide clinical services at St Cuthbert’s for 24 hours.  The hope is to raise £10,000 which includes entry to the race with medical and ground support from the race organizers.

 

St Cuthbert's Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to all those affected by life-limiting illnesses, at a time and a place that is right for them. The hospice aim to support each person and their family and friends, helping them to make informed choices and decisions affecting their lives. St Cuthbert's Hospice needs to raise over 2 million annually to supplement commissioning from the Health Authority. Income is generated through fundraising and from Hospice charity shops around the region.  More information can be found at: https://www.stcuthbertshospice.com/