Nick Blackwell Backs Forever Friends at Vitality Bath Half

The Forever Friends Appeal are excited to announce that former middleweight boxer Nick Blackwell will be joining their running team for the 2017 Vitality Bath Half Marathon, to thank staff at Bath’s Royal United Hospital for the treatment he received earlier this year.

The 25 year old from Trowbridge will take on the race on behalf of The Forever Friends Appeal, the primary fundraising charity at the Hospital, to raise much needed funds for Helena Ward – the ward that cared for him during his recovery process, in the wake of what was to be his last professional fight back in March.

Nick Blackwell was forced to retire from his boxing career after suffering a swelling on the brain during his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr in March this year. Nick briefly “died” on his way to hospital in London where he was placed in an induced coma after suffering bleeding on the skull. After receiving treatment in London, he was transferred to the RUH in Bath and now wants to say thank you to the doctors and nurses who looked after him.

Nick says, “Running the Bath Half is the least I can do after everything the RUH has done for me – the staff on Helena Ward are amazing. They’re saving lives every day. I want to raise as much money as I can as thank you for all their help.”

Helena Ward is a Neurology ward with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and support staff who work collaboratively to deliver care to their patients. The ward treats a wide range of patients from the age of 18 upwards with complex disorders relating to the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve and muscles, caused by neurological conditions or acute trauma. It delivers rehabilitation, which played a huge part in Nick’s recovery.

Rosie Lloyd, Senior Sister on Helena Ward says, “We are incredibly grateful to Nick for choosing to fundraise in support of patient care on Helena Ward.  We hope to use the funds raised by Nick’s Half Marathon run to put towards the funding of a special outdoor therapeutic space, where patients on Helena Ward are able to relax and also carry out their therapy as part of their initial rehabilitation.”

The Forever Friends Appeal are now calling for as many people as possible to join their running team, and Nick, to run for patients at the Hospital. You can choose to support an area that is close to your heart.

Events Fundraiser for The Forever Friends Appeal, Laura Pearce comments:  “We are so excited that Nick has chosen to be part of our team in the Vitality Bath Half – affectionately known as “Ted’s Team”! Nick has such an inspiring story of recovery and overcoming odds, and is such a positive person. It’s great to see that he is so motivated to take on this challenge for the ward that cared for him – running 13.1 miles will definitely be a change of pace! He’s a brilliant ambassador for the RUH. The Vitality Bath Half Marathon is a really special event with an exceptionally scenic route for participants. We have a number of charity places in the race, so if you’d like to join Nick and support patients at the RUH please sign up and join our amazing team!”

The popular race, located in the historic city of Bath, will take place on Sunday 12th March 2017.

Run the Vitality Bath Half for The Forever Friends Appeal

Silver Bond places for The Forever Friends Appeal are now available and can be purchased at www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk for £35, with a pledge to raise a further minimum sponsorship of £175. Runners can choose to raise funds for any ward or department at the RUH that is close to their heart, or the Cancer Care Campaign which is fundraising towards the build of a pioneering new Cancer Centre at the Hospital.

If you already have a place in the race but would still like to be part of the team supporting patients and their families at the Hospital, please get in touch – the Appeal would love to hear from you!

For further information, please contact Laura Pearce, Events Fundraiser, on 01225 821535 or laurapearce1@nhs.net.

Vitality Bath Half Marathon 2017

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