Weston Park staff take on ‘Race to the North Pole’ challenge for Sheffield hospital’s cancer charity

A team of 80 healthcare staff at Weston Park are taking on a mammoth Christmas challenge for the charity which supports the much-loved Sheffield hospital.
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The group are aiming to collectively run, walk, cycle or swim the distance between Weston Park and the North Pole - and back - in just 24 days between December 1 and Christmas Day.

Their progress is being monitoring on the fitness app Strava, with participants already more than 2,000 miles into the 5,077 mile total distance - well over a third of the way to their overall goal.

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The challenge is being organised by therapeutic radiographers Frances Tod and Kate Hanson, who put up a notice in their staff room and were amazed at the response.

Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.
Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.

Frances, aged 23, of Nether Green, said they initially thought only a handful of them would take part, but in the end dozens of their colleagues were really enthusiastic about it.

And thanks to those donating they have already raised more than £3,500 for the Weston Park Cancer Charity in just the first week, after they smashed through their initial target of £1,000 in just a few days.

Frances said: “Lots of the other therapeutic radiographers are doing it but we’ve also got booking clerks, physicians and engineers as well.

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“It works out at about three miles a day and people thought it might be a struggle but we have surpassed our targets every single day.

Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.
Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.

“And everyone has been really overwhelmed with how generous people have been so far.”

The Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity supports patients being treated at the hospital and their families.

They provide therapies for people undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy and help fund the research and clinical trials which take place at the hospital.

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Frances has been working at the hospital for just over two years, and says the challenge has been a great opportunity to do something collectively in what has been a challenging year.

Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.
Just some of the Weston Park staff who have taken on the Race to the North Pole Christmas challenge.

She said: “We are a really sociable team and spend a lot of time with each other outside of work.

“But we haven’t been able to do that this year so this has been a great way of bringing everyone together.”

For more information on the challenge or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/frances-tod.

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