Martin House Care Team run more than 100 miles from the coast to their hospice

Members of the Martin House Children’s Hospice care team have run more than 100 miles from the Yorkshire coast back to their workplace to raise money for the charity.

The group set off from Saltburn on Saturday 19 September, completing an overnight relay before running the final stretch together and arriving back at Martin House in Boston Spa on Sunday morning.

Their challenge, dubbed 'Running Costs', was created to raise money towards the day-to-day cost of providing specialist care and support to children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their families.

So far, the challenge has raised more than £2,000 for Martin House.

The route took the runners from Saltburn through Staithes, Whitby, Glaisdale, Rosedale and Helmsley, before continuing through the night towards Crayke, York, Copmanthorpe and Tadcaster. The team then came together for the final leg to Martin House.

Members of the Care Team divided the route into individual sections, with some tackling distances comparable to half marathons and marathons, while a support vehicle transported runners between stages.

The idea came from staff who wanted to do something themselves to help fund the care they provide every day. It also reflects a wider shift in fundraising at Martin House, with the focus moving from THE BUILD – the £21.9 million transformation of the hospice – to the ongoing cost of providing care and running its services.

Hollie Siu, Care Team Nurse at Martin House, said: “We wanted to take on a challenge together because we see every day just how important the care Martin House provides is to children and families.”

“Running more than 100 miles through the day and night was a huge challenge, but knowing we were raising money to help keep that care going gave us plenty of motivation.”

“The support we had along the route and when we arrived back at Martin House was brilliant, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated.”

Each year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire.

Its specialist teams provide care at the hospice in Boston Spa, in hospitals and in families’ own homes, including planned short breaks, symptom management, emergency care and end-of-life care.

Providing this specialist care costs Martin House around £13 million every year, with the majority coming from voluntary donations and fundraising.

For further information about Martin House Children's Hospice and how to support it, visit: www.martinhouse.org.uk