Retail Manager John is lacing up for a sporty challenge to raise awareness of The Hospice Charity Partnership.
As part of the charity’s Summer of Sport campaign, John Ridd, Retail Area Manager, will be running from John Taylor Hospice, on Grange Road in Erdington, to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, on Raddlebarn Road in Selly Oak, to highlight the unity between the two hospices following the partnership last year.
John, who has worked at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice in Retail for 12 years, said: “I wanted to do something to raise awareness of The Hospice Charity Partnership since Birmingham St Mary’s and John Taylor Hospice joined together last August.
“We are one charity, one team and one hospice family. Everything we do is for the good of people in the community, patients and their families and I hope my run will promote this.”
The challenge coincides with HCP’s Summer of Sport campaign, which encourages people to raise vital funds for patients living with life-limiting illness and their families by hosting a sporty fundraiser anytime between 1 July and 31 August. For more information visit: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/campaigns/sport
To donate and support this campaign visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/summerofsport22
You’ll struggle to find anyone as passionate as me about the hospices.”
This will not be the first challenge John has undertaken for the charity, in the past he has ran the London Marathon twice and is even planning to climb Ben Nevis in 2023.
“You’ll struggle to find anyone as passionate as me about the hospices,” John added. “I absolutely love my job and where I work, it’s a fantastic place.
“We’re constantly working together with other departments in the charity. For example, recently a young patient was staying at our Inpatient Unit and the TV he had wasn’t compatible with his Fire Stick. The Clinical Team asked if Retail could help find a TV for him, and within half an hour we had one ready to go that had been previously donated.
“Although we do a lot of our work in the shops across the city, everything comes back to how we can best support patients and families.”
John will run his eight-mile cross-city route on Saturday 13th August just in time for the Party in the Park celebrations to begin.
He said: “I’ll be starting my run at about 9am on the morning of the Party in the Park and will be finishing the run at Selly Park in time for me to jump on the vintage stall we’ll be running on the day.
“I hope to see plenty of people there!”
Why not join us for Party in the Park, our fabulous celebration of all things summer 2022.
Celebrations will kick off at 11am. Entry is free and the day will be packed with live music and entertainment, DIY craft stalls, games stalls and tasty treats from local vendors.
If you’re inspired by John’s story and want to do something sporty to support The Hospice Charity Partnership, why not take part in our Party 5k? A brand new fun-filled 5k fit for all the family.
You’ll boogie your way through party stations, take on an inflatable slide and finish in a tunnel of foam, before celebrating back at Party in the Park. Here, you’ll receive your exclusive Party 5k Party Bag. Sign up here: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/campaigns/party-5k
