Five colleagues are going the extra mile for the charity they work for by signing up for this autumn’s Royal Parks Half Marathon to fund the life-changing care they help deliver through their roles at Isabel Hospice.
Physiotherapist Emma Imam, paramedic Andrew Shaw, Clinical Paramedic Specialist Alex Palmer, Senior Staff Nurse Rachel Wisby and Staff Nurse Espe Munoz Martinez will be among the hundreds of participants taking part in this year’s event on 9th October.
The 13.1-mile route on closed roads will take them through four of London’s eight historic royal parks – Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens – and passed some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade and The Royal Albert Hall.
Throughout 2022, Isabel staff and volunteers have taken part in a variety of activities to raise funds and awareness of the charity’s caring work to mark its 40th anniversary.
Each year, the Hospice supports hundreds of patients living with a long-term, progressive illness, and their loved ones to ensure no-one with a life-limiting condition has to face their diagnosis alone.
All of the Hospice’s services are free of charge to those who need them, but the charity must raise £7 million every year to guarantee the future of its care.
Senior staff nurse Rachel Wisby, 47, said: “I feel privileged to work for Isabel Hospice as part of the Hospice at Home team. All of our services are free of charge and make a big difference to those we support, evidenced through the wonderful cards we receive from the families we have cared for.
“The money raised will enable us to engage with even more members of the local community, striving towards the Hospice vision of outstanding palliative care for all. We are grateful for any donation you might be able to make.”
Clinical Paramedic Specialist Alex Palmer, 35, works within the Community Team, providing specialist palliative support to patients with cancer and other life-limiting conditions. He said: “I feel extremely proud to work for Isabel Hospice, it is an incredible organisation that is filled with hard-working, caring people.
“I am looking forward to taking part in the Royal Parks half marathon with my colleagues. We are determined to do well and have put ourselves through many tough early morning training runs in preparation for the big day. Thank you for any donations you make to this great cause, we are very grateful for your support.”
Physiotherapist Emma Imam, 44, has worked at Isabel Hospice for six years. She said: “I’m taking part in the Royal Parks half marathon as a challenge to raise as much money as I can for the wonderful charity that I work for, to support all the patients we care for.
“I love working as a physiotherapist here. I work both on the In-Patient Unit and as part of the Living Well with Isabel team, caring and supporting patients and their carers holistically when living with serious, long-term and life-limiting conditions.
“I’m very passionate about the work that Isabel Hospice does and for rehabilitation and wellbeing in palliative care. My priority is to maintain people’s independence and enhance quality of life, focusing on achieving personal goals, to optimise choice and enablement, so people can live the best they possibly can within the limitations of advancing illness.”
Hospice at Home staff nurse Espe Munoz Martinez, 45, said: “This year is the 40th anniversary of the Hospice and we thought it would be a nice way to celebrate and, at the same time, help raise very needed funds. I love working for Isabel and it is a privilege to be part of such a great team.
“As a charity, we are mostly funded by the generous contributions of people in our community, just a small part comes from the NHS, so doing this half marathon is my contribution to allow us to carry on doing a much-needed job looking after people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness in our community.”
Hospice paramedic Andrew Shaw, 24, said he was inspired to sign up by other Isabel fundraisers who take on challenges and other activities to fund the Hospice’s work. He said: “Earlier in the year, my partner Jack and best friend Teigan took part in the Hospice skydive event to raise money for our work, and so when this opportunity arose, I knew I had to do my part too!”
You can sponsor our Team Isabel runners by donating to their fundraising page.
Inspired by our Hospice runners? We have places available in the TCS London Marathon, London Landmarks Half Marathon and Brighton Marathon. To secure your slot to run on behalf of Isabel, email lindsay.hunter@isabelhospice.org.uk.
