Rachel Hawkett

Half Marathon run for Peanut ward

Fundraising for Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund
£1,335
raised of £1,200 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Participants: Heather Gooding and Sue Gooding
We support Queen Victoria Hospital to deliver excellent care & rebuild lives

Story

Thanks for taking time to read about our half marathon fundraising run. 

At 2 and a half years of age In 1986 I was badly scalded after an accident at home. I pulled a saucepan of boiling water over my chest and arms, following this I was treated in the Mcindoe burns unit East Grinstead where I had several skin graph operations. My sister Heather was only 6 weeks old, now as a parent I can’t even begin to imagine how awful this must have been for my Family.

Following my initial treatment, my Dad embarked on a bike ride from Maidstone to Lands End to say thank you and raised in excess of £1200 (see newspaper articles below). However as a family we didn’t appreciate until later that my treatment did not stop there and would continue for another 20+ years. 

As I have grown I have had numerous skin grafts operations with the last one being in 2009. I believe that my regular hospital admissions inspired my career as a paediatric nurse and I have even had the pleasure of working on Peanut ward for a couple of years (with some amazing staff who had looked after me in the past!). 

I am very grateful to all the staff who work at East Grinstead Hospital but in particular the children’s ward who always went above and beyond. Having an injury such has a burn had not only a massive physical impact but emotional too, however I have always had such amazing friends and family to give me the love, support, confidence and resilience needed growing up empowering me to ignore the occasional negative comments and understand natural curiosity. 

Somehow Sue, Heather & I came up with a great idea of running a half marathon (possibly after a few procesco’s!)  This is a huge challenge for us and therefore would be grateful for any support and donations to help me say thank you. 


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About the charity

Queen Victoria Hospital provides life-changing surgery and care to every NHS patient who needs us. With your support QVH can do even more to help rebuild lives such as making improvements to patient environments, purchasing items for the benefit of patients, and supporting research.

Donation summary

Total raised
£1,335.00
+ £291.25 Gift Aid
Online donations
£1,305.00
Offline donations
£30.00

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