Training for a marathon involves so much more than running – it is also way to get fit, boost mental wellbeing and build friendships. It is also a fantastic way to raise money for the Trust’s charity, Black Country Brighter Lives, which is exactly what four colleagues at BCHT are taking on this month.
Wendy Ewins, (Head of Commissioning, Case Management and Keyworking Autism and Learning Disabilities), Georgina Dean (Chief Financial Officer) and Catherine Smith (Head of Service Management and Support) are taking on the Manchester Marathon on 14 April, while Adam Hawker (Deputy Chief Financial Officer) will tackle the London Marathon on 21 April.
The charity funds projects that support patients and staff, such as providing therapeutic activities on wards, supporting research, boosting the wellbeing of staff and enhancing the buildings and grounds where the Trust provides care.
Donations from generous supporters of the charity make a real difference to the experiences of patients, families and carers. Previous projects supported by the Trust charity include the creation of a choir for people living with dementia; therapeutic gardening activities for people being supported for their mental health and gifting Christmas presents to people spending the festive season in hospital.
We caught up with Wendy as she enters the final days of training to find out more about the challenge and what it means to her.
What has inspired you to take on this challenge?
I spent a long period inactive with unstable asthma. My hospital team gave me a bit of a shake, told me to drop my expectations around pace and distance, and just try some gentle movement again. I didn’t want to because it was uncomfortable, but knew that running is really good for lung health, and historically running had been part of me taking control of it. I found it really difficult at first, felt disappointed with not being able to go very far and feeling so tight, but the more I did it, the easier it got, and the stronger I felt. Deciding to do a marathon felt like a really good stretch target – we gave ourselves a year to train, rather than the typical 4 months, and took it gently. I’m inspired by seeing other people with severe asthma nail marathons, and would encourage anybody with a chronic lung condition to check out advice on how exercise affects your lungs. Marathons aren’t for everyone – but being active certainly is.
How is training going?
Training has been a series of highs….with a few lows. The highs – finding funky running shorts with thee pockets which meant we could carry an even bigger picnic, coffee and cake at the end of long runs! Doing training in some beautiful places like the Peak District, feeling so grateful for the green space we have access to in Birmingham – we did one 20 mile run across parks, woods, canals, rivers, lakes across Birmingham and hardly saw another person. Feeling like we are reaching the end of our energy stores, then coming through it and feeling strong again. Laughing in the pouring rain, even a little dance here and there – just because we can!
The lows… wading through streams knowing we had another nine soggy miles to go, Georgina accidently touching a live electric fence, getting a bit lost, running in very cold weather, running in very hot weather, trying to peel off the compression socks (it has become a job for the kids!) But the highs have far outweighed the lows, and one of us can always find something to laugh about when the other is struggling.
How has training and exercise helped your mental health?
Knowing that I am running again means I generally try to look after myself a little better – I need to prioritise eating enough good stuff to fuel my body, drink plenty to stay hydrated, sleep well so that I am rested, walk lots so that my legs don’t get stiff – all these things are good for us in ordinary life, but running gives me that extra reason to think and plan ahead.
Being outdoors is great for our emotional well-being, I can’t overstate that. Sometimes in training we go quiet as we become tired, and we start to notice our surroundings more – those moments are really special, and I realise that these sounds, sights and smells often pass me by in the working week.
Running beyond our comfort zone has taught us lots about ourselves – seeing and believing that our bodies are capable of doing far more than we imagined was possible, and getting comfortable with feeling tired and vulnerable – being able to trust our running buddies to read our signs when we are tired, and trust that together we will all reach the destination.
Why should people support the appeal?
Spring is all about new beginnings, a time of renewal after winter, so it’s is a great time to explore a fundraising idea and try something new – maybe something that takes you a bit out of your comfort zone. Supporting our Trust charity helps us to keep being a force for good, enabling us to create new opportunities to support people live happier, healthier lives.
Good luck to Wendy, Georgina, Catherine and Adam! You can donate to their appeal at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bchftmarathonteam
They are running their marathons part of the charity’s Spring Into Action appeal, which is calling on Trust staff and the public to take on a fundraising challenge in April and May.
The charity team have made a fundraising pack and are hand to support your efforts so you can be a fundraising hero this Spring! Find out more at: https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/support-our-charity/spring-action-appeal