Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity sits at the heart of one of the busiest NHS Trusts in the country: University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. As the official charity for all ten hospitals in the Trust, the charity does great things with multi-million pound investments back into the hospitals. Working alongside NHS staff, the charity enhances the patient experience with better environments, funds the latest technology, supports innovative treatments and helps fund internationally important medical research.
The Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride is a 43-mile cycling event with 800m of climbing. This one isn’t for the faint-hearted. But you can do it.
The ride offers a personal challenge and the feel-good factor of completing the cycle. And, of course, a medal. Cyclists will push themselves over the hills and around the lakes, powered by raising vital funds to support our patients, their families and our amazing NHS staff.
The Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride is part of the Top of the Gorge Adventure weekend, a full weekend to celebrate the great outdoors in the Mendips, with organised activities including a running and mountain biking challenges, along with the option for you to camp with family and friends. It’s a unique opportunity for you to take in the Mendips Hills – all from the seat of a bike.
By taking on the Mendips Lakes and Lumps Ride and fundraising for Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, you’ll be helping the 10 hospitals that we support in the Bristol and Weston area. Every year, over 93,500 patients from the Mendips visit our hospitals.
• That's 18,200 inpatients, 45,800 outpatients and 29,500 emergency department visits
• It's more than 24,210 emergency visits and 18,691 outpatient appointments at Weston General Hospital
• And it's more than 2,800 inpatient stays at St Michael’s Hospital.
Your support will help us go above and beyond for patients, their families, and our amazing NHS staff. Here are just a few examples of the amazing projects we’ve been able to fund in these hospitals thanks to fundraisers taking on events like the Mendip Lakes and Lumps Ride
• Cancer support boxes for children at Weston General Hospital. The support boxes were created for children or young people whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. They contain an age-appropriate set of tools designed to help children or young people understand what cancer is, the treatments given and the side-effects they may cause. There are also activities to improve communication within the family, practical tips to help manage changes in the family routine, and tools that explore the emotional impact a cancer diagnosis brings.
• Revamp of the surgical day case unit at St Michael's Hospital. This included funding a range of sensory items such as fibre optic lights, fidget toys, starry night projectors, relaxing music boxes and water tubes to both stimulate and relax patients in preparation for surgery. In addition, murals have been installed in the side rooms to depict contrasting sunrise and sunset themes with connotations of going to sleep and waking up from an anaesthetic.
• Dementia activities in Bristol and Weston. Activities include reminiscence cards, age-appropriate puzzles, picture books to encourage memories, and aqua paints. Based on experience and research, activity engagement helps reduce the levels of stress and anxiety for the patient and their carer which in turn may support their discharge to their original living arrangements.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
