Last year was a great success with £2500 pounds raised. When I was asked to do it again I initially declined as i felt i would be asking the same people for sponsorship. However the marathon is addictive and the desire to do better than last year was too great. 

Last year my fundraising went to the anatomy department. A great response, particularly from old Oswestrians, sent my total soaring above the £1500 target.  This year I am again running for the anatomy department.  Mr Jaffray, consultant spinal sureon, college examiner and, more importantly, player/manager of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) cricket team has been keeping the anatomy department afloat for years.  Steps are being taken to ensure the long term survival of the department but every penny counts.

This year I am joined by David Ford, consultant upper limb surgeon, Chairman, West Mids Regional Specialty Committee, RCS Specialty Adviser, Clinical Tutor and Jedi master.  He has yet to turn green and start levitating but still runs up Pontesbury Hill every morning at 0600 and is threatening to make this an entrance requirement for specialty training.  Like David Jaffray he is also a colllege examiner.  In a world where examiners are either hawks or doves he most certainly is a hawk.  A friend of mine was examined by DJF when we both sat the exam.......he still wont talk about it.  

As I stated last year I found my trips to the anatomy department invaluable prior to my operational deployments.  With another deployment to Afghanistan this summer i have been back again.  As a consultant I am able to take trainees with me......yes Mr Singh youre next!  We are fortunate in having a Hoffman ex-fix set and can therefore apply all manner of external fixation, revise junctional anatomy and plan and perform emergency craniotomies.  This is invaluable training for consultants and trainees alike.

Now for a few updates on things relating to RJAH in general.  Firstly the hospital cricket team marches on.  For any old players there is web page http://rjahcricket.co.uk/.  This displays match reports and pictures from last season.  If anyone has any historical pictures, amusing stories or otherwise from previous seasons could they please send them in to info@rjah-cricket.org.uk.     

The Oswestry town museum openned on March 2nd.  It has a display called the Orthopaedic Experience which contains artefacts from the hospital, many of which come from the anatomy department, such as splints, braces and other orthopaedic equipment.  I have not yet been but it should be worth a look.

Finally progress is being made on the new main entrance to RJAH.  This will also contain a conference hall which could possibly be a new venue for the hospital review.  It is certainly impressive and if i can get any pictures i will put them onto the just giving page.

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