Angels Wing 35 Mile Run For Sick Kids

A group of sixty determined runners who pulled on their trainers to complete an epic 36-mile mission have raised over £5,000 for our charity.

A sub-group of members of Overseal Running Club, known as the Angels 2025, limbered up to take on the challenge that would see them run all or part of the route from our hospital in the city centre, back home to Overseal, near Swadlincote.

The Angels joined the run at various points along the route but one of 18 runners starting the challenge at the hospital was dad, John Hall, whose 11-year-old daughter, Bethany, inspired the challenge.

Bethany was born with a rare condition called Sotos Syndrome, which causes rapid physical growth, low muscle tone, and in addition for Bethany, Scoliosis, which means she has a curve in her spine.

Diagnosed at just six-months-old, Bethany has been under the care of our hospital since she was four, when she was referred to undergo an operation where orthopaedic surgeons used rods to help stabilise her spine. Earlier this year, Bethany underwent one more final surgery to replace the rods with new ones, that will stay in her spine forever, and to fuse some of her vertebrae to prevent further growth and curvature of her spine.

Grateful for Bethany’s care, John shared his family’s story with his friends at the running club, who all agreed they should take on a challenge to raise funds for the hospital, and another charity that has supported Bethany.

John said: “It’s been incredibly difficult to come to terms with Bethany’s condition, but we know she’s in the very best hands. Our running club is such a supportive community and when I suggested I’d like to give back to the hospital, the Angels 2025 group got right behind me and together we decided it was also a good way to mark the club’s 10th anniversary.

“Most of the route used canal tow paths so it was a mostly flat run, but being the longest distance some of us had ever run at greater than a marathon, it was still a challenge! We were all in it together though and being with friends spurred us on and as more runners joined us along the way, it brought a new energy.”

The sixty runners made it back to Overseal after 10 hours of running and were greeted by their friends, family, neighbours, and support crew, who lined the streets to cheer as they crossed the finish line at The Robin Hood pub.

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We couldn’t be more grateful to the Angels 2025 team, and to John who inspired them to pull together on such a phenomenal challenge for our charity.

“The incredible funds they raised on their epic run home from our hospital will help us continue supporting brave patients like Bethany, and their parents and families too.”