Medical team will run half marathon with a dummy on a stretcher for mental health charity

Around a dozen members paramedics and emergency medical technicians from Warrington Hospital will be running 13.5miles around the town’s parks as well as completing a lap of Warrington Wolves’ home ground The Halliwell Jones Stadium to raise money for mental health charity MIND.

The challenge will start at Warrington ambulance station at 9am on Sunday, August 1 and finish at Warrington Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

Kenny Albinson, who is one of the medical team taking part, said: “Paramedics have been there to support the community throughout the pandemic, seeing first-hand the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on patients and their families.

“From taking the sickest patients to hospital to telling loved ones that their family members have died, the ambulance service has never once stopped providing the highest standard of care.

“Paramedics have consistently put their patients’ needs above all else, knowing the risk that they faced doing so and they have watched countless patients and families suffer and they have lived with the fear of bringing Covid-19 home to their own families.”

He added: “Understandably, this has taken its toll on everybody and their mental health and we want to help.

“MIND ensures that no one has to face a mental health problem alone.”

The charity also provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and the campaign aims to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

The team, together with the dummy on a stretcher and all the equipment they need to help someone suffering from a cardiac arrest, will be running through Woolston Park, Birchwood Forest Park and Orford Park where friends and family can cheer them on.

To donate to the team’s fundraising pages visit https://justgiving.com/fundraising/stretcher-run or https://www.gofundme.com/f/stretcher-run