A DEVOTED team of nurses from Worcestershire Royal will be tackling thirty miles on foot this May to raise funds for national blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia.
25 staff, friends and family across the Oncology and Haematology teams from Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust and their colleagues from Woodland Oncology/Haematology Unit at Spire Southbank Worcester will be lacing up their walking shoes once again on May 27 to tackle 30 miles of the canal walk between the Centre for Clinical Haematology, Birmingham and the Oncology Centre at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Aptly named the ‘Rowan Ramblers’, the team walked across the Malvern Hills in 2019 in aid of the charity and raised more than £12,000 to help support blood cancer patients across the Worcestershire area.
This year they are going bigger and better however by aiming to raise £30,000
The team were inspired to fund-raise for the charity on behalf of Dr Salim Shafeek, Clinical Director of Haematology and Oncology at the hospital, who found himself on the receiving end of his own diagnosis of myeloma, a form of blood cancer back in 2019 and have now pledged to walk from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where Dr Shafeek receives treatment.
Dr Shafeek was the first consultant to treat former England, Crystal Palace and Wolves footballer and now CL Patron Geoff Thomas MBE when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in 2003.
“I might not be here today if it was not for Dr Shafeek who quickly recognised the severity of my illness and referred me to Professor Charlie Craddock CBE in Birmingham.” Thomas said.
Cure Leukaemia funds the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) which is a network of specialist research nurses at 15 blood cancer centres located in the UK’s biggest cities.
The team have already received the support of Worcestershire businessman, Adam Hewitt, who has kindly sponsored the team for the challenge and made a financial contribution towards their target.
Nurse Emma Simpson completed the first walk back in 2019 with the team and is looking forward to reuniting the ‘Ramblers’ or their next challenge.
“We originally started the Rowan Ramble in support of the inspiring work currently being carried out by Dr Salim Shafeek and the team at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and their dedication to their patients and colleagues.”
“It will be a tremendous challenge for all of us but one that we are looking forward to taking on for such a fantastic cause. The charity’s support of the Haematology team allow us to continue providing support for blood cancer patients across the region.”
Dr Shafeek said: “Cure Leukaemia has been closely involved with us in Worcester for years, funding our trials nursing team and helping us to put patients into clinical trials.
He added: “It is so touching that my colleagues are doing this walk in support of me and for a fantastic charity.
Visit https://justgiving.com/team/rowanrambletaketwo for more.
