Harry's Potter raises around £17,000 for charity
More than 250 people walked, ran or cycled between Shropshire’s two acute hospitals to raise in the region of £17,000 for charity.
Delighted organisers of Harry’s Potter hailed the hospital-to-hospital fundraiser as the best yet after it took place between the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) on Saturday.
It was the fifth such fundraiser between the two hospitals with a total of more than £80,000 being raised for charity in the last five years.
Walkers and runners travelled 18 miles between the two hospitals on Saturday, with cyclists riding 35 miles between the two sites or – new for this year – a nine-mile half distance event and a 5K Potter. The event also featured a summer fete throughout the afternoon at RSH, organised by Matron Clare Walsgrove.
Nick Holding, who organised the event and works at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which runs RSH and PRH, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day with more than 250 people taking part across the three events.
“The event has become a really popular fixture in the calendar and a great social experience bringing lots of people from across our hospitals together with members of the public for a brilliant day of walking, running and cycling.
“We’re still waiting for some of the donations to come in but so far in the region of £17,000 has been raised, mostly for the house charity Harry Will Walk but also for other charities which entrants wanted to support.
“Thank you to everyone who took part to make it such an excellent day.”
This year’s house charity was Harry Will Walk (Tree of Hope) to support little Harry Morgan-Shirley who lives in Codsall near Wolverhampton and whose mum works at PRH, to receive life-changing surgery to help him to walk.
Harry, who has cerebral palsy, was born with a type of brain damage called PVL (Periventricular Leukomalacia) which affects his balance, movement and muscle control. He is unable to stand or walk independently due to his cerebral palsy and wears splints to help reduce the tightness in his legs.
Harry’s mum Liz Morgan said: “We’re determined that Harry will walk and have been overwhelmed by the support of people already, which has enabled us to raise more than half of our £80,000 fundraising target.
“A big ‘thank you’ from us for everyone who turned out yesterday to take part in Harry’s Potter and for the many more people who sponsored entrants to raise such a fantastic sum both for Harry’s Potter and other charities. The kind support is very much appreciated.”
To support Harry Will Walk visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harrywillwalk
