Dedicated Christie nurses get ready to take on Snowdon at night

A group of staff from The Christie Hospital - including a nurse from Oldham - are taking on the challenge of climbing Snowdon at night as a way of doing their bit to honour the patients they treat while also fundraising for The Christie Charity.

Five nurses and three members of the clerical team will be taking on the challenge this Wednesday (June 21).

They will start at 11pm on Wednesday evening and hope to reach the peak at 3am.

The team is made up of:

Andrea Whitmore (Nurse) – from Oldham

Chiara Dallatorre (Nurse)

Caroline Hamer (Nurse) 

Richard Dudley-Jenkins (Nurse)

Eleanor Pearce (Nurse)

Krishna Sanjay Chellappa (Admin)

Clare Day (Admin)

Joanna Jaen Duany (Admin)

Oldhamer Andrea said: "The reason for our fundraising started when we realised that we just couldn’t offer the treatments we do for patients with haematological cancers without the support of The Christie Charity.

"The charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds.

"This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and extra patient services.

"I had always planned to do the walk in memory of my younger brother John, who passed away at the age of 33 from a heart attack.

"His 50th birthday is on Wednesday and so it seemed a fitting way to remember him as he loved the outdoors, camping and all things bohemian.

"The team got talking about the events we could do, and it was agreed we would join the Christie Challenge (the challenge is to take part in six fundraising initiatives throughout the year and for each one you earn a piece of a puzzle which makes up a giant medal).

"We hoped this would become a team event and we would do it in the memory of and in support of our patients who we have met over the years.

"We all have stories of patients and families that have touched our lives either because of the tremendous effort and courage they have shown to manage their disease or how they have been determined to enjoy the life they have with those closest to them.

"The solstice is a time to be grateful for what we have and embrace the height of summer.

"It is the time of the maximum light - the Druids call this Alban Hefin (The light of summer).

"It’s the longest day in the calendar in the northern hemisphere, and various festivals are celebrated across many countries.

"We know the route we will take will be not be an easy journey and this is something we see our patients going through every day .

"We hope that our event will signify how much we appreciate their commitment to the research and clinical trials they embark on.

"We have various levels of fitness in the group and we know hiking at night brings extra challenges but the chance to see the sun come up on the morning of the solstice will be worth all the effort.

"Richard in the group is Welsh and is looking forward to hiking his country’s highest peak, others have not done this hike before, even in daylight, so this will be their first attempt.  

"The team has been doing various things to build up their fitness levels including lots of dog walking, hill walking  and running up stairs!

"We have committed to various events across the year to support The Christie charity, including a skydive, running up the stairs of the Beetham Tower, a dragon boat race, The Great Manchester Run and The Manchester Half Marathon etc, and we have a dedicated fundraising committee to discuss ideas each month."

You can donate to the group's Justgiving page by clicking here

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