Hospital staff cycle 38 marathons for the Scanner Appeal!

Over 30 members of staff from Weston General Hospital, and colleagues from Somerset Surgical Services including doctors, nurses, secretaries and therapists took part in a 12 hour Bikeathon on Friday 15 September to raise money for the Trust’s Scanner Appeal.

Running from 8am to 8pm the Bikeathon was held outside the main entrance of the hospital using stationary bikes. Between them hospital staff cycled an amazing 1000 miles the equivalent of doing 38 marathons! Members of the hospital’s League of Friends were also on hand to support the event and accept donations from the public who kindly donated an incredible £410 on the day.

The Scanner Appeal is a joint campaign between the Trust which runs the hospital and its League of Friends – a charity that raises funds for projects around the hospital.

The Appeal aims to raise £400,000 to refurbish Weston General’s X-Ray department and for new scanning equipment which will greatly improve the service it delivers to thousands of patients it sees each year.

The event organiser – Chris Cox who’s a Nursing Assistant in the hospital Outpatients Department explains more.

“I wanted to do a Bikethon for Weston as I’d done one before. We’ve got lots of cyclists in the hospital and I knew this is exactly the sort of thing our NHS staff love to get involved with.

“It’s handy doing a Bikeathon in a hospital as Physiotherapy lent us one of their gym bikes and we’re very grateful to one of our porters Chris Gesulga Albon who lent us his very smart racing bike.

Some of Weston General Hospital’s Bikeathon team and colleagues from Somerset Surgical Services who also took part

“Support from staff has been amazing. More people signed up to do the Bikeathon that we had spaces for. I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who took part and also our amazing hospital public who donated on the day.  

The Trust’s Chairman, Grahame Paine, added: “We have incredible people working here at Weston General Hospital, who give up their time to help our hospital.

“A 12 hour Bikeathon is no mean feat. I admire the dedication and commitment of our NHS staff who despite having very busy jobs always find time to support good causes. This campaign is for the people of Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding areas. With your help, we can fund essential life-saving equipment which will improve lives for people living locally.”

If you or your organisation would like to get involved in fundraising for the hospital’s Scanner Appeal please email info@scannerappeal.org for more information. You can also make a donation to the appeal via the League of Friends shop which is located inside the hospital, or by texting SCAN16 and the amount to 70070.