Category: Fundraising
‘This Dad Can Run’ blogger is fundraising for St Barnabas Hospice in memory of his father
Austin Sheppard is the inspirational St Barnabas supporter behind the ‘This Dad Can Run’ blog and Instagram page. His running journey was inspired by his children and he now uses this platform to support other runners, talk about mental health and raise vital money for charities. One charity which he has recently been supporting is St Barnabas Hospice, who cared for his dad, Alan, during the last few weeks of his life.
Austin said, “Dad was a larger than life character in many ways; he would talk to anyone and everyone, making time to ask people how they were. I have so many great memories of running and walking together with him. 
“In 2014 Dad had a fall at home and hit his head. The hospital raised concerns about his breathing and discovered that he had been living with fluid on his lungs and heart. They were amazed he had survived so far. Further tests showed he had stomach cancer and he received the terminal diagnosis in September 2014.
“St Barnabas looked after Dad very well in his last few weeks when his condition had deteriorated dramatically. Their care was so needed, and I feel thankful that he had their support.
“He enjoyed banter and chats with the staff, and they were able to support him to move from the Grantham Hospice in the Hospital back to his house, which was his final wish. He came home on the Saturday and passed away the following Monday, exactly where he wanted to be.
“After he passed, my mum was able to access the St Barnabas bereavement counselling group where she made friends that she is still in regular contact with. The wider support for the family is so important and has been a lifeline for Mum.
“Donations from Dad’s funeral went to the Hospice, but I have been thinking for a long time about doing something else to support them. So, the hat campaign was born!
“I wanted to do something that stood out and captured people’s imaginations, so I sourced and funded a large bulk order of ‘This Dad Can Run’ bobble hats and began giving them to anyone who made a donation to St Barnabas through my JustGiving page. Around 40 have been given out so far, and I think we are on track to raise in the region of £800!” 
This January, St Barnabas Hospice launched a free virtual challenge for supporters to take part in, called Don’t Quit, Get Fit. The Hospice are challenging people of all ages and fitness levels to get up off the sofa and get active in any way they choose.
Austin said, “The Don’t Quit, Get Fit initiative looks great! With 2020 and 2021 being the way they are, having a virtual challenge is the perfect way to start a fitness journey. The extra motivation of setting up a JustGiving page and raising funds for St Barnabas is sure to help you on the way, and they are even giving out free water bottles to anyone who pledges to fundraise.
“Personally, I absolutely love the idea of taking on a long-distance running challenge like running 34 miles – the equivalent of running between their Lincoln and Grantham buildings.
“Some people might be thinking that exercise isn’t for them, but I want to reassure those people that you can take things at your own pace and are capable of doing anything you put your mind to. Be brave!
“I always used to be active growing up, but had slipped into a sedentary lifestyle after retiring from rugby in 2017. My kids saw an old picture of me playing rugby and didn’t recognise me, so it was the wake up call I needed. I weighed 22 stone when I did my first run, struggled round the 5k circuit, but I did it! I continued to run every day that month, lost 1.5 stone and just carried on from there.
“Running has totally transformed my mental and physical health. I now run five or more times each week and have so much energy to do simple things like playing with the kids. My seven-year-old son sometimes joins me on his bike and even runs for shorter distances with me.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit runs from January to March 2021 and it is completely free to sign up. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Austin, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Follow Austin on Instagram at @thisdadcanrun
St Barnabas Hospice kickstarts 2021 with a fitness challenge
St Barnabas Hospice is inviting supporters to walk, run, cycle or swim their way to fitness while raising vital funds for the charity to kick off the new year.
The Hospice has launched its new campaign ‘Don’t Quit – Get Fit’ to encourage not only its supporters to get fit, but to raise funds after a difficult 2020 for the charity. Those taking part can define their own challenge, whether that’s running the equivalent of a marathon, climbing the same amount of stairs as it would take to reach the top of Everest or just getting outside to exercise after the festive season.
Fundraising Officer at St Barnabas, Paisley Paddison said: “We’re so excited to be bringing this active campaign to life, we’ve had so much support for physical and active events before that we wanted to encourage people to work up a sweat again; making 2021 their year!
“Health and exercise are highly important to promote positive wellbeing and ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ provides a great opportunity for those in our local communities to take on a fundraising challenge which will allow them to have fun, take in some fresh air and focus on something in a time that is very challenging and worrying for many.”
Caroline Swindin, Fundraising Development Manager said “With 2020 behind us, this is a great time to kick start your fitness in 2021, stay motivated, and whatever your age and ability set yourself achievable fitness goals and try something a little different to stay well.
“It is easy and free to sign up and our team is here to support you every step of the way. By raising just £71.40 will enable St Barnabas nurses to provide two hours of vital physiotherapy or occupational therapy for our patients helping to ensure that they live as comfortably as possible, for as long as possible.”
Supporters that register their JustGiving page also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle. You can register via a simple sign-up form, all the Hospice asks is that you try to raise a minimum of £71.40 in sponsorship money.
Emma Tatlow, Chief Executive from Active Lincolnshire said “Being active is so important for both our physical and mental wellbeing, getting outside and moving more boosts our mood, improves overall health and makes us more resilient to long term health conditions.
“It is our vision at Active Lincolnshire for more people in the county to move more often – we should all be aiming for 150 minutes of movement a week (that’s 26 minutes a day) and this campaign will certainly help to keep Lincolnshire motivated and moving during in 2021, in addition to supporting the vital work of the hospice.”
Those taking part can also gain free access to the private ‘Adventure With St Barnabas’ Facebook group, advice from professionals and a discount car for retailers specialising in outdoor and sportswear.
Tree-cycle Collections Cancelled
St Barnabas Hospice has taken the difficult decision to cancel its upcoming Treecycle Christmas Tree collection fundraiser.
St Barnabas CEO, Chris Wheway said: “Following the Government’s Tier 4 COVID restrictions announced on 30th December, we put a halt to new registrations for our Treecycle scheme whilst we reviewed the feasibility during these challenging times. The scheme allows our supporters to have their Christmas trees collected and chipped for a small donation, however after further discussion and exploring every possible option, we have decided to cancel all collections due to safety concerns.
“We are very disappointed to have to announce this, but safety is paramount – the Hospice is about caring for people, and we would never want to put people in danger. We have looked at all options, but due to the nature of the collections, we cannot facilitate this safely without the risk of potentially spreading Coronavirus.
“We are so sorry to let our kind supporters down. We have invested a huge amount of planning time and effort into the fundraising event, but we are confident that we can provide this service next year, once it is safe to do so. A huge thank you to each and every supporter who has donated, this money is so vital to support the Hospice and the care it provides to thousands of people each year.
“We had aimed to reach the donation total of £30,000 to backfill the deficit of losing the chance to hold huge fundraising events such as our Colour Dash, our Moonlight Walks in Lincoln and Stamford as well as our shops closures in 2020.
“The pandemic has once again cancelled a vital fundraising event. We are now seeking alternative ways to raise the crucial funds we need throughout 2021.”
Support for the scheme this year was strong, with more than 900 sign-ups and many companies including Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Lincolnshire Coop, Gelder Group, Travis Perkins, Daniel Charles Construction, Delta-Simons, Lincolnshire Showground, Ignite Stoves and Fireplaces, Continental Landscapes, Hilltop Tree Service, Simpson Arboriculture, Manor Farm Tree Services, KWR Plant Hire, Bytham Trees, Taylor Tree Services, Woodcraft Tree Services, TJS Tree Services, Arborez, Doddington Hall & Gardens, Gary Rook, KW Timmins & Sons, Down to Earth, Jane & John Kania, Lincolnshire Eco Arborists, Waterside Shopping and Fillingham Trees.
Chris added: “We must extend a thanks to all corporate partners, chippers and volunteers that were able to help. We are overwhelmed by your dedication to the Hospice and how, during this difficult time you have still offered your assistance.
Supporters who had arranged collections are being contacted via email about how they can obtain a refund if required.
Alternative options for collection and disposal include local council’s tree collections and scheduled green bin collections. Local refuse centres are also still open to dispose of trees.
The Treecycle scheme will return next year, with collections starting on Saturday 8th January 2022.
-ENDS-
Market Rasen Golf Club – Captains’ Charity Day
An article written by Professor Steve Armstrong of Market Rasen Golf Club
What a challenging year 2020 has been. One of my tasks outside of work has been to represent Market Rasen Golf Club (MRGC) as Men’s Captain during its 108th year of existence.
If anyone asks me in future years “when was you club Captain Steve?” I will have no problems remembering. Considering the 1.6-Million cases and 60,000 deaths in the UK alone due to Covid-19 it will be hard to forget the year 2020.
Amidst the chaos surrounding the pandemic that fell upon us, the Captains Committee of MRGC set about rescheduling a full year’s diary of events, fixtures and competitions (within guidelines published by England Golf).
Whilst a few events were cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, the vast majority were rescheduled successfully. A particularly important event for us was the Captains’ Charity Day. This was rescheduled from 30th May to 26th September 2020. Our chosen charities were St Barnabas Hospice (Men’s charity) and Motor Neurone Disease UK (Lady’s charity). Following an extensive marketing campaign and an intensive search for sponsors, the event raised an amazing £7,374 to be split evenly across our two charities.
The event attracted forty-one teams of four players, with the first team setting off at 07.30, and the last team arriving back at the club-house close to dusk. Teams arrived not only from around the county of Lincolnshire, but also from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. We are very grateful for all the support we received, including those from within the LIBS community.
“We can never thank St Barnabas enough for being there when it mattered, providing pain management, nursing and counselling. They were simply exceptional.”
This Christmas, a family from Grantham is supporting our Rudy’s Run event in memory of Lisa Handley. Making up the family is Ian, Jayne, Teresa, Tania, Edward, Sally, Alex, Tamzin, Kai and Sofia. 
Rudy’s Run isn’t a race, but a chance to run, walk or prance to raise vital funds for St Barnabas Hospice. Schools, nurseries and children’s community groups have signed up in huge numbers to take part in the event this Christmas, with around 7,500 children registered.
Losing a loved one can be extremely traumatic for a child, but is something which one in thirty children go through every day. Rudy’s Run has been designed to highlight the free bereavement support which St Barnabas provides, and to continue funding it throughout the Hospice’s toughest year to date.
The family have witnessed first-hand the care and compassion from St Barnabas Hospice when Lisa was in their care in 2017.
Lisa’s father, Ian, said, “Lisa was always such a determined young lady – very hard working and lived for her kids. She was a wonderful mother and her kids all adored her.
“She was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in 2017 which brought our world crashing down. We can never thank St Barnabas enough for being there when it mattered, providing pain management, nursing and counselling. They were simply exceptional.
“Lisa sadly passed away on Remembrance Day – 11th November 2017.
“A special memory for our family was in early November that year when the Hospice staff arranged an early Christmas Day for us all. It was our last Christmas together. Lisa was in the incredible Hospice in the Hospital in Grantham and the team filled a room with decorations, food and even presents for the children. It was so special for all of us – the children at the time were only age thirteen, six and fifteen months. 
“During the last week of Lisa’s life, her eldest daughter, Tamzin, was allowed to stay at the Hospice with her mum and we were told we could visit at any time. Even after she passed away, the nurses continued to support the whole family and our wishes.
“We will always support St Barnabas now because we just can’t say thank you enough for all they have done. Along with supporting Rudy’s Run, we have also donated items to the charity shop in Grantham, joined the Lottery and taken part in the Colour Dash.
“The kids absolutely love the sound of Rudy’s Run! I asked them what makes it so exciting and they said, “Mum always loved Christmas and it was our last happy memory with her.””
Rudy’s Run is taking place this Christmas. 7,500 young children have signed up to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice, and you can sponsor them by visiting www.justgiving.com/campaign/rudysrun. For more information about the bereavement support which St Barnabas offers, please visit Bereavement Helpline – St Barnabas Hospice.
Richard Pullen is dedicating a light in memory of fiancé, Rachael who sadly died age 24
“Christmas is a time for family. If you have lost someone, that’s when you notice the empty chair or the present you aren’t buying. Remembering that person with a light will help you through a difficult time of year, whilst enabling St Barnabas Hospice to care for those most vulnerable.”
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without our traditions, and I want to tell you about a very special tradition from St Barnabas Hospice to help people like you and me remember loved ones at this difficult time of year. When my fiancé, Rachael died, I lost all interest in Christmas for a while. St Barnabas has shown me how to celebrate her life each Christmas in the way she deserves. 
Rachael was just 24 when doctors told her she had months to live. We had only got engaged the year before and moved into our first house, so the news hit us like a torpedo. We had gone from planning our future together to facing the shock that our future would now just last several months.
Watching Rachael go downhill over the next few months simply broke my heart. Her confidence was shattered, and I felt helpless. This was when St Barnabas Hospice stepped in.
Rachael moved into the Hospice in Lincoln at a point when we thought she had just days to live. I remember popping out one day and returning to find her sat up in bed with a sausage sandwich. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Over the next few weeks my Rachael came back to me – pain management, physiotherapy, and specialist care all helping to bring her confidence back.
I stayed every single night in the Hospice with Rachael after the nurses kindly pushed two beds together so I could hold her as we slept.
With St Barnabas’s help, Rachael reached a point where she could go on day trips and then eventually come home for a few days. You may know already that St Barnabas is more than just one building. Because of their incredible Hospice at Home team, Rachael had all the equipment she needed and was at home for my birthday. She even had the strength to organise me a surprise party which was such a special and memorable moment for me.
Sadly, Rachael suffered a stroke whilst at home and the Hospice arranged for her to go straight back in for end-of-life care. The cancer was in her brain and the end was near.
Rachael passed away on 11th February 2013.
I will be eternally grateful to everyone at St Barnabas Hospice who supported us through Rachael’s illness. Even after her death they were there for me and Rachael’s family – nothing was ever too much trouble. 
I knew of the Light up a Life campaign through my job in the fire service and had previously spent many years supporting the beautiful Torchlight Procession, as hundreds of people walked through Lincoln carrying flaming torches in memory of loved ones. I remember the hairs standing up on the back of my neck as I watched the procession move towards Lincoln Cathedral. That was before I had even lost anybody.
After losing Rachael, Light up a Life took on a whole new meaning for me. I found I could dedicate a light in her memory to shine brightly on the Tree of Life each year. Rachael was the light of my life every single day and this tribute seems so fitting.
This Christmas, St Barnabas Hospice is once again helping people like you and me to remember loved ones in a very special way. I am inviting you to dedicate your light for a loved one so they can join Rachael on the beautiful Tree of Life outside the Cathedral. A donation of just £70.10 could cover the cost of five hours of care from remote-working nurses who care for a patient in their own home.
You can remember anyone with a light, not just those cared for by the Hospice. As a thank you and token for your loved one, St Barnabas will send you a personalised card and special tree decoration in the post. You will also be invited to attend the virtual Torchlight Procession in November, which will be taking place online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
Your donation for a light could pay for more people like Rachael to receive pain management and specialist end-of-life care when the time comes. It could support families like ours during the darkest days and help our nurses continue their care for some of the most vulnerable people during this pandemic.
When Rachael was in the Hospice, she would talk about Biscuit – the rabbit I gave her as a surprise Christmas present one year, who she absolutely adored. Biscuit and I now look back on that special Christmas with fond memories, grateful to know how much it meant to her.
Please join me in shining a light to remember someone special this Christmas. The world is a scary place for many right now and I know that the lights of our loved ones will give people hope for better times. If you want to honour your loved one with a light, please fill in the form below and post it back to St Barnabas Hospice.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.
Best wishes,
Richard Pullen
Sarah Poucher and family are taking part in Rudy’s Run in memory of her dad, Colin
This Christmas, a family from Wragby will take part in Rudy’s Run in memory of Colin Westwood. Making up the family is Colin’s wife, Linda, their daughter, Sarah, and their grandchildren, Mollie (age 10), Thomas (age 9) and Bethan (age 6).
Rudy’s Run isn’t a race, but a chance to run, walk or prance at school or at home to raise vital funds for St Barnabas Hospice. Registration includes antlers and red noses for the whole family or group, as well as a downloadable pack of activities including Rudy’s special recipe for reindeer food, make your own Christmas decorations, word search and colouring template. 
Losing a loved one can be extremely traumatic for a child, but is something which one in thirty children go through every day. Rudy’s Run has been designed to highlight the free bereavement support which St Barnabas provides, and to continue funding it throughout the Hospice’s toughest year to date.
Linda, Sarah and family have witnessed first-hand the care and compassion from St Barnabas Hospice when Colin was in their care in 2013. Colin was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had his first operation just three days after his granddaughter, Mollie, was born. Over the next few years, the cancer spread to his lymph glands and lungs.
Colin’s daughter, Sarah said, “My dad was the most intelligent person I’ve ever known. He always had the answer, whatever the question, but he wasn’t arrogant with it. He was a quiet man who loved to read, and this love of books stayed with him right to the end. Even when he was too weak to hold a book, we bought him a lightweight Kindle so he could continue his reading.
“In Dad’s last few weeks the St Barnabas Hospice at Home team from Louth were amazing. Dad’s final wish was to die at home and we just wouldn’t have been able to carry this out without them. He was dignified and hated to rely on others for help, but the nurses made him feel comfortable and gave him the dignity he needed. 
“After a visit from his GP, Mum told us it was time to be at home with Dad as he didn’t have long left. We decided to have fish and chips in his room that week and celebrate his upcoming birthday. We read all his cards out to him and sang ‘happy birthday’. Dad died the next day in the early hours of the morning, age 81. This was the day before his 82nd birthday.
“Since Dad died, keeping his memory alive has been so important to us as a family. Mollie and Thomas were only young when he passed away, but we always talk about him and do things in his memory. We have taken part in On Yer Bike and Colour Dash for St Barnabas, as well as dedicating a forget me not and dragonfly in his memory. My youngest daughter, Bethan, was born exactly a year after Dad’s funeral. She has his love of knowledge and certain things she says remind us all of him.
“Rudy’s Run stood out to us as an initiative we would love to support together. Mum joined a St Barnabas bereavement group after Dad passed away which was invaluable to her. She made some great friends and found an outlet for her grief where she could talk to others in her position. The fact that Rudy’s Run is raising money to support the Hospice’s bereavement services means a lot to our family and we are determined to do our bit to help.” 
Thomas said, “I miss when my grandad used to bounce me on the bed to make me giggle. We will be doing Rudy’s Run to help other poorly people like him.”
Mollie added, “Grandad used to read with me, and he taught me the alphabet on trips to the hospital for his treatment. I can’t wait for Rudy’s Run because we get to wear antlers and new Christmas jumpers for Grandad!”
Rudy’s Run is taking place throughout November and December this year. If you want to sign up, just like Colin’s family have done, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/rudysrun-2021. Every penny you raise will make a huge difference to vulnerable people across Lincolnshire.
We have partnered with EBP to encourage schools, nurseries and community groups to get festive!
St Barnabas Hospice and the EBP have teamed up to launch a new festive fundraiser for Christmas in the form of Rudy’s Run.
Set up to encourage schools, organisations and the charities’ supporters to get involved and raise much-needed funding. The run is not a race, rather a chance for families and schools to dance, prance or run around and join in with some Christmas-themed crafts. 
Caroline Swindin, Fundraising Development Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “Registering for Rudy’s Run means you receive a pair of antlers and a red nose along with a downloadable pack of activities – including Rudy’s special recipe for Reindeer food. You will also receive a ‘thank you’ message all the way from the North Pole for signing up and fundraising to support St Barnabas Hospice.
“With events and productions like pantomimes and festive gatherings postponed this year, we wanted to provide Lincolnshire schools, nurseries, groups and families with a ‘readymade’ Christmas event they can hold safely in their bubbles.
“The partnership with the EBP has been instrumental in maintaining good sign-ups for schools. However, we also wanted to make sure our activity pack hit all the right notes with fun as well as including educational activities which are perfect for younger children. We want to say a huge thank you to the team at the EBP for their support and encouragement with launching this new fundraiser.”
Matthew McKeown, Head of Commercial Services at The EBP commented “We’re delighted to team up with St Barnabas on such a fun and festive project. We hope that the schools, children and families taking part will have fun taking part whilst raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”
This Christmas, a family from Wragby will take part in the run in memory of Colin Westwood. Making up the family is Colin’s wife, Linda, their daughter, Sarah, and their grandchildren, Mollie (10), Thomas (9) and Bethan (6). 
Linda, Sarah and family have witnessed first-hand the care and compassion from St Barnabas Hospice when Colin was in their care in 2013. Colin was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had his first operation just three days after his granddaughter, Mollie, was born.
Over the next few years, the cancer spread to his lymph glands and lungs.
Colin’s daughter, Sarah, said: “In Dad’s last few weeks the St Barnabas Hospice at Home team from Louth were amazing. Dad’s final wish was to die at home, and we just wouldn’t have been able to carry this out without them. He was dignified and hated to rely on others for help, but the nurses made him feel comfortable and gave him the dignity he needed.
“After a visit from his GP, Mum told us it was time to be at home with Dad as he didn’t have long left. We decided to have fish and chips in his room that week and celebrate his upcoming birthday. We read all his cards out to him and sang ‘happy birthday’. Dad died the next day in the early hours of the morning, age 81.
“Since Dad died, keeping his memory alive has been so important to us as a family. Mollie and Thomas were only young when he passed away, but we always talk about him and do things in his memory. We have taken part in On Yer Bike and Colour Dash for St Barnabas, as well as dedicating a forget me not and dragonfly in his memory. 
“Rudy’s Run stood out to us as an initiative we would love to support together. Mum joined a St Barnabas bereavement group after Dad passed away, which was invaluable to her. She made some great friends and found an outlet for her grief where she could talk to others in her position. The fact that Rudy’s Run is raising money to support the Hospice’s bereavement services means a lot to our family and we are determined to do our bit to help.”
Thomas said: “I miss when my grandad used to bounce me on the bed to make me giggle. We will be doing Rudy’s Run to help other poorly people like him.”
St Barnabas Hospice is renowned for its outstanding end of life care for adults but also provides pre and post-bereavement support for families. This invaluable support is free for anyone in Lincolnshire who is struggling with loss, and more work is being done at St Barnabas to create a specialist bereavement service for children as young as five.
Losing a parent, sibling, or grandparent can be extremely traumatic for a child and can affect more children than many people imagine.
Rudy’s Run has been designed to promote and raise funds for this service as well as maintaining St Barnabas Hospice’s overall mission throughout the most difficult year ‘to offer compassionate, end of life care’.
Schools, nurseries or groups are able to sign up free of charge by visiting www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/rudysrun
If you would like to access our free Bereavement support services, please contact our easy, self-referral line on 0300 303 1897 or read more on the service here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/services/wellbeing-support/bereavementhelpline/
73-year-old completes 100km of running in support of St Barnabas Hospice
Age stole a march on youth when 73-year-old David White became one of the first fundraising volunteers to complete St Barnabas Hospice’s 100km Gone Running challenge. The retired journalist needed just nine runs between September 12th and 29th to clock up the ‘ton’.
David, who lives on the Carlton Centre estate in Lincoln, admits he had a head start on younger runners. “As a pensioner I have a bit more time on my hands than people who have to cope with juggling work and bringing up a young family,” he says.
The former Lincolnshire Echo sub-editor took up running when he was 48 and wanted to regain some fitness before he hit 50. “At first, all I could do was jog a couple of hundred yards and then take a break before jogging another 200 yards, but over the months I gradually built up the distance until I could finally manage 10k non-stop,” he said. “That first time was one of the few occasions I actually experienced a runner’s high.
“From there followed a few half-marathons and I managed my one and only marathon in 2001.”
But work and family demands, plus a string of injuries — including one that necessitated a nine-month lay-off — meant that over the years David became just an occasional runner.
Two years ago, however, he finally called time on his 52-year journalism career — during which he worked on newspapers in Grimsby, Exeter, Aberdeen, Lincoln, Newark and Nottingham — and since then he has been building back up to running more regularly, getting out three or four times a week. About the only extended break he’s had from his exercise routine was five weeks at the turn of the year when he and his wife Stella visited their two sons in Malaysia and Australia, accompanied by daughter Helen.
“At my age,” David says, “I don’t think it’s wise to run every day — I need a rest day between runs.
“I made an exception during the coronavirus lockdown from March to May because we were limited to an hour’s outdoor exercise a day and walking the dog took care of that. That meant I had to resort to the treadmill in our garage. But treadmills are boring and I can’t stick them for much more than 30 minutes a time, so I ran indoors just about every day of lockdown in the hope it would make up for missing my longer outdoor runs.
“In reality, it barely kept me ticking over and when the lockdown restrictions eased and I was able to get outside again, I had a lot of catching up to do to get back to last year’s level of fitness.
“It’s still a bit of a plod — any mile under nine-minute pace is good for me these days — but at least I’m still getting out there and clocking up the hard yards.”
So what made David tackle the Gone Running 100km challenge? “I kept seeing posts about it on social media and thought ‘Chances are I’ll do the distance anyway so why not try to help out the hospice?’
“It provides vital care and support to people across Lincolnshire affected by life-limiting or terminal conditions, and I was aware how badly charities’ fundraising had been affected by the pandemic, so taking up the challenge was a bit of a no-brainer.”
It’s not the first time David has run for the hospice. He got a place in the London Marathon in 2001 and because the Lincolnshire Echo — for whom he worked at the time — was backing an appeal to build a day care centre for St Barnabas, he used the 26-miler as a fundraiser.
So how did the marathon go? “It was incredibly hard work – so hard that I don’t remember towards the end running past landmarks like Big Ben – but I finished a few seconds inside four hours — not too bad for a guy who was a week or so away from his 54th birthday.”
Would he do it again? “Not very likely now. I did apply last year but didn’t get through the ballot. I was secretly very relieved!”
So far, David’s Gone Running effort has raised £300 for the Hospice. If anyone would like to make a donation, they can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-white91
To sign up and take part in your own Gone Running challenge this autumn, click here…
“Karen’s wish for me was to continue raising money for St Barnabas in her memory and I know she is watching over us as the fundraising total continues to climb.”
The Lincoln 10k was due to take place on Sunday 1st November, but unfortunately has now been postponed until next summer. One lady who had signed up to run in support of St Barnabas Hospice is Fiona Brown from Sturton by Stow.
Regardless of the postponement, Fiona is still determined to complete a 10km run around Lincoln on 1st November in memory of her friend and neighbour, Karen Chambers. 
Fiona said, “I was already registered to run the Lincoln 10k before Karen was diagnosed with Glioblastoma in April this year. Karen was only 46 at the time and her illness is still so difficult to comprehend.
“When I was told the devastating news, I decided I needed to do something to help. I spoke to Karen’s husband, Nick, and explained that I was running the Lincoln 10k and wanted to do this to support a charity of Karen’s choice. Nick and Karen agreed and gave me their full support, selecting St Barnabas Hospice, a charity already close to my heart.
“The St Barnabas Hospice at Home team cared for Karen at home, not just supporting her, but looking after the whole family too. They are truly incredible people and I know Karen had the best possible care because of them.
“The initial fundraising target was £300, but the donations kept rolling in and we reached £1,000 in just three days! We were totally blown away at the kindness and generosity shown by others in support of Karen and our fundraising. Nick helped me to keep Karen updated with my training and fundraising and he said it brought a smile to her face.
“On Sunday 12th July, I received the devastating news that Karen had sadly passed away, age 47. I am a similar age to Karen, and we are both mothers, so I found this news particularly difficult. I so desperately wanted to reach the £2,000 fundraising mark for Karen to see before she passed away, but sadly that was not meant to be.
“Karen’s wish for me was to continue raising money for St Barnabas in her memory and I know she is watching over us as the fundraising total continues to climb. She will be with me on 1st November, and she is my motivation to complete the 10k this year. Karen knew I would be running on this date before she passed away as the postponement had not yet been put in place. I won’t let her down. 
“As well as running my own 10k this year, many of Karen’s work colleagues and family will also be joining me to complete the main Lincoln 10k event for Karen next year. Our fundraising page has been extended and we will all be wearing special t-shirts to honour her.
“I was heartbroken when Karen passed away, and now I am even more determined to fundraise in her name. She was a truly special lady and my life is much better for knowing her. If our fundraising page could reach the £3,000 mark by my run on 1st November, I would be so proud.
“I want to thank everyone who has donated so far. Your money will make such a difference to the Hospice.”
Fiona’s fundraising page is now only £200 away from her £3,000 target. Can you help her reach this by Sunday 1st November? Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fionabrown78
