Final push to complete bikers' fundraising for new nurses’ office at Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Easter Egg Run this year was postponed for the second year running. However, that has not stopped the region’s biking community from showing their support for The Children’s Hospital Charity virtually.

Thanks to the support of two-time World Superbike Champion and charity patron James Toseland, more than £4,000 has been raised through an online raffle and auction. Prizes included signed bike leathers and one lucky winner will be having lunch with James when restrictions allow.

Now, event organiser Michael Peat is working to reach their £5,000 target for this year’s fundraising, which will see them sponsor the nurses’ office in the new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Michael, 40, from Totley explains: “The people who turn up to the Egg Run make the event so special. You always meet so many amazing people so I am beyond gutted that we have had to postpone for the second year running.

“We know that so many of the staff and children look forward to it, but thankfully we have still been able to fundraise for a wonderful cause in the meantime.

“It has been tough but the biker community have also been incredibly supportive of each other throughout the pandemic, using social media to stay in touch. Hopefully in 2022 we can all be back together in person again.”

The money raised will support The Children’s Hospital Charity’s appeal to build a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s.

A centre of excellence, the Oncology and Haematology department at Sheffield Children’s covers a population spanning an area from South Yorkshire through to Nottingham and Grimsby. It also sees patients from across the UK for chemotherapy, operations, and bone marrow transplants.

Michael added: “It would be fantastic if we could raise the money left to have some permanent recognition of all that the Egg Run event does for the hospital. One of the great things about the proposed new Cancer Ward is that more patient rooms will have a view of the park and can enjoy the spectacle of Egg Run even if they can’t leave their rooms during treatment.

“The nurses office in particular was an opportunity to make a positive impact for the staff on the Cancer and Leukaemia ward and in turn, help every child receiving treatment. It would mean the world if we could reach our target.”

Lucy Rathbone, Regional Fundraising Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity added: “We are really thankful to Michael and everyone in the biking community who continues to support Sheffield Children’s virtually during these difficult times.

“Thanks to the success of our online raffle and auction, the Egg Run community is now well on their way to reaching their target to sponsor a new nurses office on our redeveloped Cancer and Leukaemia ward.

“We hope to have finished funding the project by November and it would be a wonderful way to recognise the Egg Run’s outstanding contribution to the hospital over more than two decades.”

There are a limited number of special Egg Run T-shirts available for purchase in support of the fundraising at RCK Motorcycles on Langsett Road (S6 2UB) and SMC (Sheffield Motorcycle Centre) on Walker Street, Wicker (S3 8GZ).

Alternatively, you can make a donation and arrange collection directly with Michael at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michael-peat