Everyone at Cardiff & Vale Health Charity would like to say a massive thank you and good luck to Stephen Mitchell who has decided to run the Cardiff Half Marathon route, all in aid of helping patients across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan during the COVID-19 pandemic!
At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Stephen spent over a week in hospital with Ulcerative Colitis. Upon being discharged from the hospital and returning home, Stephen had to shield for a further six weeks due to the medication he was prescribed. Following the completion of his treatment course and as a result, his shielding period, Stephen decided to set himself a challenge and fundraise for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity in appreciation of the care he received in hospital.
As a former athlete and current coach, Stephen wanted to return to his previous fitness levels challenging himself to run the Cardiff Half Marathon route on Saturday 4th July whilst obeying social distancing guidelines. As a patient, Stephen understands that it can get lonely in hospital due to the visitor restrictions currently in place. As a result of this, he wishes to support the Patient Experience Team via the Health Charity, who are helping brighten up patients’ days by providing them with items such as toiletries, nightwear etc. to put smiles on their faces during this difficult time and has so far raised a fantastic £276.30!
Stephen said “The treatment I received whilst in hospital, and in the weeks since as I continue my treatment back at home, has been outstanding. The NHS staff have done an amazing job looking after me, and now it is my turn to start looking after myself by improving my fitness. I therefore want to support the amazing work done by our NHS staff in hospitals and other healthcare settings across Cardiff and the Vale”.
“At this time, it is completely the right decision to not allow visitors into hospitals. However, speaking from experience, it is lonely being a patient in hospital but not being allowed visitors. Therefore any little that can help the experience of patients in hospitals to allow them to feel less lonely and a little loved at this time is incredibly beneficial #SpreadTheLove”.
We at Cardiff & Vale Health Charity very much appreciate this act of kindness and wish Stephen the best of luck for his challenge, we are all rooting for you! On behalf of all the NHS teams here in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we thank Stephen from the bottom of our hearts for his inspiring kindness and generosity once again.
You can help them raise even more by contributing to Stephen’s page; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Steve-Mitchell-coach
If you would like more information on how you can help #SpreadTheLove and help our frontline NHS Teams through this pandemic then please visit Cardiff & Vale Health Charity’s website; https://healthcharity.wales/how-to-help-during-covid-19/, contact us via email; Fundraising.cav@wales.nhs.uk or make a donation here; https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/spreadthelove
Frontline NHS staff go to work to keep us and our loved ones safe. The greatest thing we can do right now to return the gesture is to stay at home.
So please Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.