Meet Alex, one of our fantastic volunteers in our Support at Home team. After hearing that his 75-year-old friend would be taking on Birmingham’s half marathon this October, Alex decided to join him to share his special moment and to support the Hospice. Read his story below to discover why he’s running over 13 miles for hospice care…
My name is Alex and I was inspired to take on the Great Birmingham Run by a very good friend of mine.
My friend is 75-years-old and despite having surgery just a few months ago, he decided to get back into training so that he could take on the half marathon later this month. I wanted to be there so I could share this special moment with him, as well as witness first-hand this remarkable achievement of his.
My friend has taught me a lot about life over the years. But what has also taught me about life and living is volunteering at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice. That’s why I’ll be taking on 13.1 miles in support of the Hospice.
I’ve been volunteering at the Hospice for a year-and-half now. I volunteer for the Support at Home service, in which I visit people in their own homes to offer a listening ear and help with any correspondence or visits to medical appointments. I’ve been with the service from day one and I am still a proud member of the team today.
I originally approached the Hospice to volunteer because I wanted to help. What I wasn’t expecting though, was the amount of help and support that I would receive myself. Not only do I really enjoying meeting new people and chatting with them but all the Support at Home volunteers will meet occasionally, where we can offer peer support and share advice.
I have met some truly amazing people in this role and I cannot thank them enough for all they’ve done for me. Apart from sharing a new perspective on the world, they have given me their trust, welcomed me into their home and shared countless special moments with me. I have received so much more than I have given and I can’t begin to describe how humbling it is to be part of this team.
For these reasons, I would encourage anyone to support Birmingham St Mary’s and if you can, to join us and volunteer. Everyone at the Hospice makes you feel so welcome and it’s heartening to see the positive impact your efforts have on other people.
Not only can I wait to cross the half marathon finish line so I can support my friend, but I also look forward to knowing that every step I take will help raise vital funds and awareness for such a brilliant charity.
Thank you Alex for sharing your story with us! If you would like to show your support for Alex and for the Hospice, you can sponsor his Great Birmingham Run here. Or, if you’ve been inspired by Alex’s story, why not take on an exhilarating running challenge for the Hospice?
