Publish date: 13 September 2021
Congratulations and thanks to Great North Runners
Dozens of people took part in the Great North Run to support Northumbria Healthcare’s Bright charity, raising thousands of pounds in the process.
Bright funds those things that the NHS does not, including better facilities for patients and their families alongside support for staff to enable them to provide the best possible care, and is hoping that around £30,000 will be raised from the Sunday’s event.
Among those running were Ajay Malviya, Alison Gould, Alwyn Chick, Andrew Irlam, Angela Ayuk, Anna Dodds, Eleanor Grogan, Garry Whittle, Karen Connelly, Kate Thompson, Patrick Price, Paul Jasper, Peter Bruce-Wooton, Rachel Barnes, Reece Calvert, Tim Holmes, Yvonne Massie and Margaret New.
During the pandemic, Bright was fortunate to receive grants from the national Covid-19 appeal, through being a member of NHS Charities Together. This money was used to fund a range of initiatives, including iPads to help patients connect with loved ones during visiting restrictions, and providing wellbeing spaces and ‘grab and go’ food bags for staff.
The donations collected by those running the world’s biggest half-marathon, which returned to mark its 40th anniversary after a year off due to Covid-19, will help Bright to continue to make a difference for patients, their loved ones and staff across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
The funds will help ongoing projects to enhance the patient experience through additional therapies, services and comforts, to improve the hospital environment, provide state-of-the-art medical equipment, invest in staff training and research to improve treatments and care, and support projects in the community to improve health and wellbeing.
Head of charity Brenda Longstaff said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the Great North Run to raise money for Bright. They can rest assured that their efforts will make a real difference and support our patients and staff at a time when the NHS has been through an unprecedented 18 months.”
Meanwhile, Northumbria Healthcare’s Dorathy Oparaeche, a community staff nurse, was one of the official starters of the race in recognition of the efforts of all NHS staff during the pandemic.
She, alongside three other NHS colleagues from across the region, was part of the event’s Great North Thank You Campaign, which paid tribute to 14 inspirational individuals, who each had a large billboard detailing their contribution up along the route of the famous race as it returned from a year off to mark its 40th anniversary.
You can watch an ITV TyneTees report about the campaign hereor watch Dorathy’s story below.