Three runs help to boost the funds of the Butterfly Appeal

Three half marathons in five weeks has helped to raise money for a major hospital appeal.

For £1,000 has been collected after Tony Lawrence run The Great North Run in Newcastle, The Great East Run in Ipswich and the Great Birmingham Run with the first event taking place on September 8, followed by the second run two weeks later and the third on October 13.

The funds have been directed towards the My WiSH Charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, and used to help support the Butterfly Appeal.

The hospital treats and a huge proportion of palliative and end of life patients in the area and My WiSH works closely with staff to find out what is needed and where it can help to ensure relatives, friends and loved ones are cared for too as this in turn, gives the patient comfort.

Packs are created when someone is called unexpectedly into hospital which consists of tissues, water, wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste among other things. Just little things to make patients more comfortable during their stay.

They also provide day beds and are seeking to purchase more as they allow relatives to stay with their loved ones but also get some much needed sleep whilst never leaving their side.

It also pays for training so that the nurses can learn how to administer pain medicine without the need to wait for a doctor.

And by supporting the Butterfly Appeal Tony, who lives in Deck Walk, on the town’s Howard Estate, is helping to make those last moments a little easier and help support patients and their loved ones at a difficult time.

And he has good reason to support the appeal.

For the 27-year-old traffic operator for a logistics firm in Little Saxham wanted to try and improve his health, fitness and lifestyle. And he also carried out the runs in memory of his father Malcolm who was treated at the hospital.

In October 2017 his father was taken to the West Suffolk where he was treated for pneumonia. He was put into an induced coma and when he finally woke up there were hopes things would improve.

Unfortunately after a few hours he suffered a heart attack and sadly passed away. He was 68 years old.

Tony said: “Since this time I have felt passionate about raising money for the hospital as I am thankful for the way in which they cared for my dad and supported my family through this difficult time. The care they provided was compassionate and thorough and the hospital staff were brilliant and I wanted to give something back to them.

“I have also since become motivated to lead a healthier lifestyle and become more active so I took on the challenge to complete the three half marathons.”

Last year he completed two half marathons … The Great North Run and The Great East Run raising money for the charity but decided to go one further this year.

His times for the three events were 2 hours 26 minutes, 2 hours 6 minutes and 1 hour 57 minutes.

“I just wanted to do the additional run and thought it was a good idea so I was thinking why not let’s do it and all three went really well. I also wanted to raise money for the charity again.”

Pictured above is Tony Lawrence with Sally Daniel, My WiSH charity appeal manager.