Richard Smith, Deputy Security Advisor to the Trust, is not a man to shy away from a challenge.  Over the past twelve months he has taken part in a multitude of runs to raise money for our work.

On the 6th September last year Richard took part in the Richmond Running Festival and ran a half marathon on our behalf, raising more than £1,100 for the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre.  Spurred on by this fantastic achievement, Richard then committed to running the London Marathon on Sunday 24th April of this year.  Completing this huge challenge within an astonishing 4 hours and 12 minutes, in spite of injury,  Richard went on to run the Vitality 10,000 in May and the British 10k London Run in July, this time raising money for the Young Person's Unit (Ward T12) and Young Person's outpatients (Ward T11).

We caught up with Richard, and he explained that he had wanted to do something to help the clinical staff and patients that visit UCLH every day.  He decided that the best way to do this was to help raise funds and support his colleagues.  When Richard was a teenager, a close family friend was diagnosed with skin cancer.  Richard remembers hearing him talk of the help and support that he and his family were given throughout the difficult times.  Sadly he lost his battle against skin cancer, but Richard wanted to do something to help others who find themselves in a similar situation, and is proud to have supported the work of the cancer centre.

It is always fantastic when people choose to support us through participating in our events, particularly when they are affiliated to the Trust. Thank you Richard for all of your support.