Ten members of the Francis House Children's Hospice care team are gearing up to participate in Manchester's largest running event. Supporters of the hospice are preparing to conquer the streets of Manchester to raise funds at the Great Manchester Run.
Junior and Mini Runs Kick Off the Weekend
The Junior & Mini Great Manchester Run will take place on Saturday, May 30, providing young athletes with a taste of the event's magic before the main race on Sunday.
More than 90 Francis House runners will join approximately 40,000 other competitors in central Manchester on Sunday, May 31. Among them is half-marathon first-timer and YouTuber Ollie Drieu, who aims to finish in under 90 minutes.
Care Team Takes on the 10k
This year, several hospice care team members are stepping forward to run the 10k race for a cause they know intimately. The team includes runners of varying abilities, from experienced racers to first-timers.
Kelly Thomas, a nurse at Francis House and part of the emotional and bereavement support team, explained how the group motivates each other: "Fitting training around long shifts and home life hasn't been easy. We've set up a WhatsApp group where we share our progress and encourage each other, which has been incredibly motivating."
She added: "Our aim at Francis House is to give parents and carers the opportunity to have a well-deserved rest, knowing their loved ones are receiving exceptional care. For this and many other reasons, I'm honoured to be able to contribute some fundraising to keep this hospice amazing."
The team understands how essential fundraising is to sustain services like respite care, sibling support, home care, end-of-life care, and emotional and bereavement support. Witnessing the impact of donations firsthand has inspired them to take on this challenge.
Nurse Shares Motivation
Megan Lowe, also a nurse on the care team, said: "I am aware that we rely on a lot of fundraising and public donations to continue providing care for our children and young people. Being on the care team you truly see how important our service is to the families."
She continued: "Running 10k will definitely be a challenge. I'm looking forward to the atmosphere on the day to keep me motivated to finish the race."
About Francis House Children's Hospice
Francis House Children's Hospice supports more than 435 families from across Greater Manchester. The hospice provides holistic care in a home-from-home environment for children and young adults with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions. Support is offered to the whole family, including physical, emotional, and psychological care from a dedicated multi-disciplinary team. In addition to respite care, the hospice also provides home care and community support.
The total annual running cost of Francis House is £5.8 million, and out of every £1 spent, 94p goes towards charitable work.
Donations to the care team fundraiser can be made at JustGiving.com.
