The QNI is experiencing a major fall in income at the same time as nurses are most in need, due to the impact of the Covid19 outbreak. Many nurses in the community are facing unprecedented challenges, adapting quickly to care for large numbers of patients in new ways. This is causing huge personal and professional stress for nurses of all backgrounds, including those who work within and who support care homes, nurses who work with people who are homeless, and all of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

I will be raising funds by walking 26 miles in my own home, on an old treadmill in the garage and around my back garden. I will be doing the challenge over two days, 25th and 26th April. I have never walked or run a marathon distance before so this is a completely new challenge for me!

All the money I raise will go towards supporting the QNI’s new Listening Service, which is our new programme to offer emotional support to all nurses working in the community health and social care settings. I am delighted that we have trained members of staff – Queen’s Nurses – who are staffing the new Listening Service, which launches on Monday 27th April.

All charities have seen a big drop in income because of the Covid-19 crisis and the QNI is no exception: it is likely that our income this year will fall by over half. We want to continue to provide the same level of support that we have done to community nurses for over 130 years, and which is needed now more than ever. But we can only do this if we raise new funds now.

Please help by supporting me so that the QNI can be there for all the nurses who need our support during these difficult times and in the recovery beyond. For more information about the support the QNI offers to nurses, visit: https://www.qni.org.uk/help-for-nurses