Inspired at both a personal and professional level, Shivani Patel joined family and friends to raise £10,000 for cancer research during The Banham Marsden March.
The Route and Challenge
Starting at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in Chelsea, the 15-mile march took participants through Fulham, Putney, Wimbledon, and Cheam, finishing at The Royal Marsden in Sutton, Surrey. Family-friendly options at the five-mile mark were available to encourage as wide a range of supporters as possible.
Personal Achievement
Shivani, a dispensing director from the locally owned and run Specsavers Streatham store, said: "Having never taken part in an event like this before, completing the 15-mile walk was both a significant challenge and a truly rewarding personal achievement."
"This cause has always been close to my heart as I have seen first-hand the incredible care and support that The Royal Marsden provides to so many people. With one in two individuals affected by cancer at some point in their lives, supporting a local charity with such a profound impact on the community felt deeply important to me."
Impact of the Event
Since it started in 2011, this flagship annual fundraising event has raised more than £21 million. These funds are used to advance medical research into cancer treatment and support patients' physical and mental wellbeing from the point of diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond.
Community Effort
Shivani added: "I am incredibly proud to have raised £1,880 for such a meaningful cause. Also, I was fortunate to join a wonderful group of family and friends who included members of the team from Stonecot Surgery, an NHS GP practice based in Morden - together we raised an incredible £10,000 for this amazing charity."
