Mental health nurse from Sheffield signs up for fundraising trek to help hospital in Uganda

Hedley Bishop, fellow nurse Jimmy Sherwin, stepfather Kevin Maw and friend Pete Johnson hope to walk 24.5 miles in under 12 hours in a trek which will take them up the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in North Yorkshire.

They are aiming to complete the challenge for the Sheffield-Gulu Mental Health Partnership in Uganda, which is a partnership between the NHS in Sheffield and the Ugandan city of Gulu, aimed at helping to improve mental health care provision in the African country.

Uganda spends its limited cash on tackling killer diseases including Malaria rather than investing in mental health care provision.

Hedley, aged 46, from Woodseats, is hoping the 27,000 followers of a Facebook page he set up, where photographs of Sheffield old and new are posted, will sponsor him.

So far £425 has been pledged, but he hopes to raise around £1,000.

“The NHS Trust we work for has links with a hospital in Gulu, Uganda. Our staff work with nurses in Gulu and the UK, sharing skills and helping develop their hospital and its services,” said Hedley.

“This is a good cause - there is no NHS in Uganda.

“Some of our staff go to Uganda to help teach them our skills and nurses come to Sheffield to learn from us over here too.”

Sheffield United is also doing its bit for charity by supporting Sheffield-based charity Neurocare, which is planning its 7th annual Heat Start 5k and 10k races.

The event at Rother Valley Country Park is sponsored by insolvency specialists Wilson Field and is aimed at people of all ages.

Sheffield United players took time out of their training schedule to officially launch this year’s event, which is to be held on Sunday, April 17.

Liz Barran, Director of Neurocare, said: “Neurocare is a charity raising money to buy lifesaving equipment for use in the neuro wards of Sheffield’s NHS Hospitals. The charity simply could not continue their work without the fantastic support of the local community.”

Over the last six years the Neurocare races have raised £75,000.

Sue Beeley, player liaison officer for Sheffield United, said: “Neurocare is one of our nominated charities this season and the players were very happy to be able to support the charity by promoting this event.

“The charity does some great work and Sheffield United as a family and community Club is proud to be associated with them.”

Sheffield-based broadband provider firm Plusnet is celebrating after handing over £26,912 to cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support following a year of fundraising activities.

Employees based in the firm’s Sheffield and Leeds offices took part in challenges including cycling to Amsterdam, running marathons and sponsored treks.

Rob Turner, senior fundraising manager for Macmillan in Sheffield, said: “We would like to thank all the staff for raising such an fantastic amount to support local people affected by cancer.

“The amount the company has raised could almost fund 1,000 hours of a Macmillan Nurse. The money will help Macmillan to develop local services to support people affected by cancer.”

Staff at Grosvenor Casino and Mecca Bingo in Sheffield have helped raise £1 million for charity over the last two years.

They were among Rank Group employees from across the country who raised the cash for the Carers Trust through activities including sponsored sky dives.

Mel Kassim, general manager at the Flat Street-based Mecca Bingo in Sheffield, said: “It’s a sobering thought to think that three out of five of us will become carers at some point in our lives.

“There are no words to describe the importance of what these carers do in our community, and it’s an honour to know how much we’ve been able to help make life that little bit easier for some of the unpaid carers in our area who could easily go unnoticed and unsupported.”

Former JLS band member Ortise Williams, who was a young carer, helped Rank and Carers Trust celebrate the milestone.

He said “Having been a young carer myself, I understand how difficult it can be. The £1 million raised by Rank employees and their customers for Carers Trust will go a long way to making life just that bit easier for thousands of unpaid carers across the UK.”

To sponsor visit: Hedley and Jimmy’s Massive Stroll