Tag: Challenges

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Travis pushes his limits in marathon challenge for hospice care

Travis Taylor running his marathons

A remarkable fundraising challenge took on an even deeper personal meaning for Travis Taylor when his grandad began receiving hospice care as he was running seven marathons in seven days for Willow Wood.

The 21-year-old, who has just graduated from the University of Leeds, completed an incredible 295 kilometres over seven days, raising more than £2,100 to support patients with any life-limiting illness that we care for.

The total raised could pay for five full days of care for a patient on our Inpatient Unit.

Travis on day one after reaching halfway point
Travis on day one after reaching halfway point.

Travis – whose girlfriend Hannah has volunteered at Willow Wood and whose mum, Caroline, and auntie, Pauline, are both part of our Retail team – had chosen to support the Hospice because of his family’s connection. However, during the challenge, the cause became even more personal.

His grandad was diagnosed with a brain tumour and began receiving hospice care during the very week Travis was completing his marathons.

“Thankfully he was able to hear about my challenge and I visited him the day after I finished but it brought home the cause I was fundraising for and motivated me even more. Unfortunately he died two weeks later.

“I am glad I’ve been able to raise money for the same cause that helped my grandad and my family through that time. The support we received, which we didn’t have to pay for, was second to none. I never knew how special an environment hospices can be.”

Travis on day five at Ribblehead Viaduct in Yorkshire Dales
Travis on day five at Ribblehead Viaduct in Yorkshire Dales.

Travis, who was a keen swimmer growing up before taking up running in 2020, fittingly called his challenge ‘Week at the Knees’.

Over the course of seven consecutive days, he tackled a variety of routes and terrain, covering roads around Lancaster, cycle tracks and even an 800-metre climb up Ingleborough. The challenge tested him physically and mentally, but with encouragement from family and friends, he crossed the finish line on the seventh day.

“I think having some of my mates to run with along the way made a big difference for my morale. It was nice having my family there on the last day and we set up a finish line.”

Although Travis completed the challenge injury-free, there were moments when he questioned whether he could continue.

“It was really difficult but as I got towards the end, I kept thinking about the reasons why I decided to do it in the first place,” he said.

Travis's cousin Lucas, dad Paul, sister Lauren, gran Kathleen and uncle Mark at the impromptu finish lane.
Travis’s cousin Lucas, dad Paul, sister Lauren, gran Kathleen and uncle Mark at the impromptu finish lane.

“I’m most proud of the fact I carried on when days four and five were very gruelling. I didn’t get the weather on day five and had to do it on the treadmill in the gym.

“It gets past the point where your body is tired anyway, but I don’t think anyone can prepare you for the mental energy side of it.

“I think traffic was the biggest problem I faced as running on roads can be difficult,  but planning the routes was the most important thing.”

Now recovering with more runs and gym sessions, Travis says he isn’t finished with fundraising. He already has his sights set on an even bigger challenge – a 180-kilometre ultra-marathon in Chamonix, France, within the next couple of years.

Travis thanked everyone who supported and donated to his challenge, helping him raise more than he had hoped to.

Donations can still be made via his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/week-at-the-knees

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Student’s seven marathons in seven days for Willow Wood

A final-year undergraduate student is pushing his physical and mental limits this summer in an inspiring fundraising challenge for Willow Wood Hospice.

Travis Taylor, 21, who is studying English and Creative Writing at the University of Leeds and has ambitions to become an English Professor, is preparing to run seven marathons in seven consecutive days as part of his self-created ‘Week at the Knees’ challenge.

Starting on 1 July, Travis will take on the remarkable feat of running a total of 295 kilometres across the week, all in aid of the Hospice based in Ashton-under-Lyne. Supporters can follow his journey as he shares his training and documents the entire challenge on Instagram via @trav.tayl.

Travis, who lives in the Lake District, has strong personal connections to the Hospice. His girlfriend Hannah has volunteered there, while her mum Caroline is the Hospice’s Glossop shop manager and her aunty Pauline is Head of Retail.

He said: “I’ve had this idea for a long while but thought that fundraising for the Hospice will motivate me and do some good in the process.

“I know Hannah’s family all speak very highly of the Hospice, it’s close to their hearts and I know it means a lot to the community too. The impact of supporting a local charity is great and I know the amount Willow Wood must raise every year is significant.”

Despite only taking up running during lockdown in 2020, Travis has quickly built up an impressive track record, having already completed several marathons and ultra-marathons. Always seeking his next challenge, he is also planning to take on a 180km ultra marathon in Chamonix, France next year.

“I don’t really have a particular time in mind to complete the marathons but I want to finish them as quickly as possible. I am still planning the routes I’ll take and hopefully the weather that week will be kind.”

His preparation has required dedication and careful planning, balancing training with his university studies.

“I did a half marathon in Manchester in February and following that it was nutritional preparation whilst working on my dissertation, but I have started training every day now and I’m looking forward to it.”

A keen swimmer growing up, Travis admits he doesn’t like sitting still and thrives on pushing himself both physically and mentally.

He is looking to raise as much money as possible to support patients from Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness in Willow Wood’s care.

To support Travis and his ‘Week at the Knees’ challenge, you can make a donation at https://www.justgiving.com/page/week-at-the-knees

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Swimming the Channel (in Tameside) for Willow Wood

A Tameside resident is embarking on a journey in the heart of her local community to raise funds for a much-loved charity.

Natalie Drabble has pledged to swim the equivalent length of the English Channel to raise awareness for Willow Wood Hospice, a cause close to her heart.

Natalie’s challenge involves swimming a staggering 1,352 lengths of her local pool at the Wellness Centre in Denton. Spread over four weeks, she will hit the pool three times a week from June to July.

The challenge is not about fitness, but is a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Angela, who received compassionate care from Willow Wood Hospice.

Angela’s memory has been a driving force for Natalie, who, despite a 17-year hiatus from competitive swimming, recently demonstrated incredible stamina by completing 102 lengths in just 1.5 hours.

Her return to swimming was inspired by fond memories of her time on a swimming team years ago.

Tameside Wellness Centre has thrown its full support behind Natalie’s fundraiser, providing practical assistance such as a dedicated lifeguard to count each length.

Willow Wood Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, provides vital care and support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Tameside and beyond. Their services include in-patient care, community outreach, and support for families, all delivered with compassion and dedication.

For more information on how to support Natalie’s challenge and contribute to Willow Wood Hospice, visit her JustGiving page.

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Hadfield couple gear up for epic challenge for the Hospice

This weekend, Hayley Kelsall and her partner Louis Worthington will be taking part in the Peak District Ultra Challenge to support patient care at the Hospice.

They have been training hard for months for the 48km challenge, which they will be embarking on in memory of Hayley’s mum Sharon who received end-of-life care at the Hospice last year.

Hayley, 26, and Louis, 27, plan to combine running and walking, hoping to complete it in 10 hours on Sunday (7th July) whilst taking in some of Derbyshire’s finest scenery.

Hayley said: “Thanks to Willow Wood Hospice, we were able to be by mum’s side and she was surrounded by loved ones in her final days. As Willow Wood heavily relies on charity to continue, we are raising funds to help ensure that other families that go through this will receive the same exceptional care and support that she did.

“We cannot thank the staff enough for the care my mum and the rest of our family received during and after her passing.”

The couple from Hadfield planned to raise £750 but achieved that in just one day! They then doubled their target and smashed that, so they are now looking to raise at least £1,750.

If you would like to make a donation, visit their JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/hayley-kelsall-1712604077528

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Teenager hits the ground running with fundraising challenge

A teenage girl from Tameside is lacing up her trainers to embark on a bumper running challenge to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Freya Goodwin has doubled her target so she is now running 60k in total by taking on 5k runs at Parkrun at Oldham’s Alexandra Park over 12 consecutive Saturday mornings.

Running is something Freya doesn’t normally like doing but the 14-year-old is pushing herself out of her comfort zone, in memory of a close family friend who received end-of-life care at the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne last year.

“I want to raise money in memory of a dear family friend who sadly passed away far too soon last year and they have always supported me,” Freya explained.

“Her husband very kindly nominated Willow Wood as the charity that he and his wife would want to support through my fundraising.”

Freya wearing her Willow Wood t-shirt and holding her Willow Wood water bottle during one of her Parkruns

Freya takes on a different challenge at this time every year as part of her studies at Mossley Hollins High School, where community and fundraising is part of their Character Awards initiative.

“Last year I walked the distance of a marathon over the month of March which was a lot of hiking around Dove Stone and different places,” said the Year 9 pupil.

“For this fundraiser, I really wanted to challenge myself by doing something far out of my comfort zone. Most people who know me know that my nemesis is running.

“I can walk, swim, play netball and volleyball but I’m not particularly good at running. I am not expecting to get great times. This challenge is going to be difficult but, as this fundraiser means so much, I will give it my all.”

It’s a family affair as Freya is being accompanied on her runs by mum Faye, dad Steven and their dog Honey.

She has already smashed her initial fundraising target of £100 and hopes to raise as much money as possible for Willow Wood, which provides high quality, multi-professional care, support and education across Tameside and Glossop.

You can make a donation on Freya’s JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/freya-goodwin-1709142095339

If you are taking on a running event or a challenge for Willow Wood, send an email to fundraising@willowwood.org.uk so the Hospice’s team can support you along the way.