Managers swap business suits for shorts and raise money for Morecambe Bay hospital charities

Between them they raised awareness about the health benefits of physical activity and raised £368.75 for Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity in the process.

Nine members of the UHMBT Trust Board and management successfully completed the NHS Triathlon, competing in three teams, with each member cycling, swimming or running.

The UHMBT teams included: ; Phil Woodford – Associate Director of Corporate Affairs; David Wilkinson – Director of Workforce & Organisational Development; Lynne Wyre – Deputy Chief Nurse; Marie Spencer – Business Manager

along-with Non-Executive Directors; Helen Denton, Melanie Weeks, Peter Armer; Jacqueline Pratt and Kate Foster, who stood in for Professor Anne Garden.

Phil Woodford, Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, who cycled during the Triathlon, said: “I am not only a staff member, but also a patient with a long-term illness so I find that regular exercise helps me to manage my pain and discomfort, and also keep my weight in check. Cycling is a great way for me to relax and unwind.

“Whilst I cannot cure myself through exercise alone, I know that regular exercise helps me reduce the chances of my condition getting worse and also help prevent me from taking time off work. I was delighted to be able to take part in this fun day – I can’t believe how far I have come in the last few years with the support of the doctors and nurses who look after me.”

Research shows that physical activity helps boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress and depression it can also help reduce the risk of many chronic conditions including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, stroke and muscular skeletal conditions.

Helen Denton, Non-executive Director at UHMBT said: “As a regular runner, I know how much better I feel from doing regular exercise.

“Across the NHS, work-related stress is still worryingly high so it’s really important that we provide our staff across Morecambe Bay hospitals with the right support and environment to help our staff stay happy and well at work. There is clear evidence that the happier, healthier our healthcare staff are, the better the overall patient outcome is. I felt proud to be able to take part in the NHS triathlon to help promote the benefits of activity to providing great patient care.”

If you would like to sponsor the UHMBT Director, knowing they successfully completed their challenge, it’s still not too late. Please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/mbhc

Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity is a registered charity that raises funds and supports UHMBT’s five hospital sites. Donations received go to providing those little extras that help make the hospital experience better or improve outcomes for patients. Money is used to fund additional medical equipment, medical research, specialist training and service improvements. It is the generosity of the local communities that enables the charity to enhance and support the hospitals across Morecambe Bay and the lives of the 365,000 people that live here.