Ashgate Hospicecare is thrilled to announce that they have been named as this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon main charity partner.
The event, which will take place this year on Sunday 22nd October, will be supported by Ashgate Hospicecare who will refund runners their entry fee if over £100 sponsorship is raised for the Hospice.
Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said:-
“I am delighted to be the first person to sign up for this amazing event. Ashgate Hospicecare is a very important and vital charity for the people of Chesterfield. The half marathon is another fantastic event to add to the Chesterfield calendar.”
Esther Preston, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Ashgate Hospicecare, who will also be taking part in the event, said:-
“I am so pleased to be chosen for this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield half marathon.”
“At this moment in time, there are 16 families a week in North Derbyshire who need hospice care but can’t access it. Ashgate Hospicecare needs to recruit more nurses and events like this will make it easier for us to reach everyone who needs us.”
“We know the tremendous difference hospice care makes to families like Benji’s and hope people across North Derbyshire will get involved with this event to ensure no one has to go without the support they need.”
John Bennett was diagnosed with skin and lung cancer in 2006 and was later referred to Ashgate Hospicecare. John, affectionately known by his family and friends as Benji, received care in his own home before being admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit where he later died. He was 51. His son, Matt Bennett, shares his experience of the time he spent at Ashgate.
Matt says:-
“My dad stayed on the hospice’s ward for a week before he died. That week’s stay was, for us as a family, a relief. He died with dignity which we can’t thank Ashgate Hospicecare enough for. But it wasn’t just the way they treated him, it was the way they treated his friends and family too – especially my mum. Without them, we didn’t have the knowledge we needed to support him.”
There has already been interest from numerous runners across Chesterfield so make sure to sign up as soon as possible. Ashgate Hospicecare will support all runners with their fundraising as well as provide running vests.
Mark Ross, Director at Redbrik, said:-
“Being involved in Chesterfield is something which is extremely important to us. We started our business four years ago and the town has been receptive to us so we really wanted to put something back into the community. Especially supporting local charities like Ashgate Hospicecare, which is such a phenomenal charity that helps so many people.
“We encourage all local businesses in the area to get behind this event, run for Ashgate Hospicecare and raise as much money as they can for this wonderful charity.”
Race director John Timms from MLS Contracts added:-
“We are really pleased to be working with Ashgate Hospice as our main charity partner for the next five years. The Hospice provides such an important service for the families in the region and the team and staff at Ashgate have already proven to be very valuable partners to the half marathon. We look forward to helping the Ashgate raise more money for its much needed services.”
If you would like to sign up for this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield half marathon, register here for just £18 and make a huge difference to patients and their families across North Derbyshire.
Ashgate Hopsice also need over 200 marshals cheering on the runners as they take on the route. Is this something you could help with? If so, please contact their events team at events@ashgatehospicescare.org.uk or call us on 01246 233404.
