Hospital staff vow to double fund-raising target after getting muddy for Cancer Research UK

More than 50 colleagues at Spire Healthcare raised £9,500 by taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy obstacle course at Cofton Park, Birmingham in July.

Spire’s head office has added an additional £1,000 to boost the fundraising amount up to £10,500.

Now staff have vowed to take part in the 5k event again next year, setting themselves an ambitious target of £20,000.

Laura Young, internal communications director at Spire Healthcare – whose hospitals include Spire Parkway, Solihull, Spire South Bank, Worcester and Spire Little Aston - said: “Colleagues absolutely loved taking part and they have already set themselves a target of more than 100 of them signing up and doubling their fundraising next year. ”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every summer to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.    

Organisers have issued a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who put their best feet forward as well as their supporters. And they’re appealing for people to make every step count by paying in sponsorship money as soon as possible.    

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in the Midlands, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Spire Healthcare for raising such a phenomenal amount. We hope their story will encourage other participants to give their fundraising one last push as well as inspire others to take part next year.

“Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Funds raised - whether it’s £10 or £100 - will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping save more lives.**

“We’re proud that Race for Life has already helped double survival rates in the UK.

“It’s thanks to our supporters who fundraise that we can go further to discover new ways to beat the disease and create a future where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life, funding 30 years of hope and progress. Money raised has helped develop radiotherapy which benefits more than 130,000 people with cancer in the UK every year.

Cancer Research UK funded scientists led the development of the Human Papillomavirus Virus vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK. The charity also funded many large clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of the drug tamoxifen and the research shaped the way the drug is used to treat breast cancer today.