Volunteers needed for Bristol Half Marathon for St Peter's Hospice
Posted on: 27 Jul 2014The only adult hospice in Bristol, St Peter’s Hospice, is appealing for volunteers to act as marshals on their behalf during the upcoming Bristol Half Marathon.
St Peter’s Hospice is the chosen local charity for the event, which takes place on Sunday 21 September, and is asking for 150 volunteers who would be happy to marshal the route, hand out water to the runners and make sure everyone stays safe. So far, 50 of this 150 have signed up, but there is still a big drive for the remaining 100!
St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,670 patients each year as well as supporting family members, taking on the tough task of being Bristol’s only adult hospice. The charity provide their services free of charge, but this costs them around £18,000 per day, with around £13,000 of that relying on the kind donations of the community.
Louisa James, events fundraiser at St. Peter’s Hospice said: “We are so pleased to have been named the local chosen charity at this year’s Bristol Half Marathon, it’s such a prestigious event and it will raise vital funds for our organisation.
“Lots of people have already signed up to run for us this year but we also need to make sure we provide enough marshals. Marshalling is a lot of fun and is a great way to get involved in an event even if running is not your thing.
“Marshals are so important to the running of the event and volunteers who sign up will be doing us a huge favour in donating their time. If we sign up 150 volunteers as marshals it means every penny raised by the event will go towards supporting those with life-limiting illnesses in Bristol.”
As Bristol’s only adult hospice, St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,670 patients each year as well as supporting family members.
All services are provided free of charge but this care costs around £18,000 a day. For around £13,000 of that, the hospice relies on gifts in wills, kind donations and funds generated by the hospice shops.
India Gilling, 23 from Cotham, is now running the Bristol Half Marathon on behalf of the hospice to say thanks for the care her mum, Jude, received. Jude was cared for by the charity before passing away at age 58 in January.
She said: “My mum had cancer for eight years before she passed away in January this year. We really wanted her to be cared for by the hospice and thankfully she was admitted for her final five days where she was looked after by the amazing team of nurses.
“Everyone there was absolutely incredible and catered to her every need. She was really happy there and I’m so grateful for what they did. When I heard how much it cost to run the hospice every day I couldn’t believe it so now I’m doing everything I can to give back to them. Myself and two close friends of the family who also knew my mum, will be running the Bristol Half Marathon and we hope to raise around £1500. I’d encourage anyone who is available to sign up to be a marshal for this wonderful charity.”
The 26th Bristol half marathon is taking place on Sunday 21 September and is one of Bristol’s most prestigious sporting events.
If you would like to sign up to be a volunteer marshal please contact Louisa on 01275 391428 or louisa.james@stpetershospice.org
To sponsor India visit her Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/India-Lucy-Alice
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
