After a COVID hiatus, we are back fundraising!

 I have joined a group of enthusiastic (although relatively inexperienced) runners. Originally I had planned to run the Cheltenham half in a group. 

Due to my own circumstances and the current situation of COVID 19 I will be running near to where I live in Sevenoaks and by myself. This is going to be a real challenge for me given my own health issues.  I’m auto immune, have chronic pain & respiratory issues and always battling with my weight due to medication. I’m not too worried about the time I run this in it’s more just about completing the distance....and I’m upping the ante... I’m challenging myself to run 36 miles in 6 days!! 

I’ve chosen 36 miles as Ben was at the hospice for 36 days and was 36 when he died. His friends and family have already smashed the original £17,000 target set by Ben ( this covered his care for the time he was there). They have raised nearly £50k! 

Running in memory of Ben Sykes and running for the amazing Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. Trying to raise as much money as we can to provide vital care in our community to families when it matters the most.

For his last 5 weeks Ben was at Leckhampton Court Hospice. A magical and inspirational place, where Ben went to LIVE! Where he could be with his young family, laugh and have fun …. and so much fun was had! Those memories are priceless and we cannot thank all the staff there enough for enabling him to have that time.

So just as Ben has always done we want to continue to think of others and find the positive. Ben said 'go big or go home!' when it comes to fundraising.
The overall aim is to ensure we can help as many other families as we can to create their own priceless memories. So aiming to add another £10,000 to the total this year if we can - which is what Leckhampton Court need to raise a day to keep going! 

So I am taking on A 36 mile challenge within 6 days in memory of Ben and all of those who have been touched by the hospice. We are hoping to raise as much money as possible. 

To put into perspective how valuable your donations are, here's some running costs for the hospice. Please use these as your motives behind a donation as every penny really does count.

* £19 pays for one hour hospice care

*£140 pays for the cost of a nurse for a day

* £150 pays for a working bag with all the kit in for a Hospice at home nurse

*£500 pays for a bed for a day of inpatient care

* £1000 could pay for a hospice nurse for a week

So dig deep and thank you so much for your support.

Love Mike and all of Ben’s friends and family  xx