They may be all about the numbers at work but Walsall Healthcare’s finance and performance teams are also all about the numbers when fundraising too!

In June, 18 colleagues across the finance and performance directorate decided to get together as a team and challenge themselves to walk, run, swim or cycle 1000 miles and raise £1000 for three charities close to their hearts.

The charities are:

• Mind – a charity that supports individuals facing mental health issues as no one should face a mental health problem alone
• Childhood Tumour Trust – a small charity that supports families and children with the most common of rare genetic condition; Neurofibromatosis Type 1 also known as NF1. Early diagnosis of this condition is limited and the impact of this mutation manifests itself in a variety of ways meaning every case is unique and has its own individual challenges.
• Well Wishers – our Trust’s charity that supports both staff and patients to improve patient care and our health and wellbeing.

The team gave it 1000% and managed to do better than its target fitness goal by completing a total of 1083.85 miles! Colleagues also raised a total of £673 (excluding gift aid) which is amazing news for all charities involved.

Senior Contracts Accountant Carly Joseph said: “Doing a challenge together really gave us a boost to our fitness and our mental health and wellbeing. The majority of us have been working fully from home and the interaction between the various departments within Finance directorate has been reduced. It was really good to come together as one to help some worthy causes.”

Performance & Information Team Information Manager Janet Mortimore said: “After a tough year, doing this challenge helped me improve my fitness and I explored some new nature walks, which was good for my mental health too. Raising money for charities that we really cared about was such an inspiration and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Fundraising Manager Georgie Westley added: “It’s amazing to see so many staff from the finance and performance directorate come together as a team to achieve a really big goal whilst also raising money for charity. They all did amazingly and Well Wishers is very grateful to have received these funds which will help pay for things over and above what the NHS can afford.”