Urgent Care and Community Neighbourhood Nursing teams take on Tough Mudder
A group of determined Mersey Care colleagues are preparing to go head-to-head with a series of muddy obstacles as they take on Tough Mudder in support of Mersey Cares!
On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the team will push themselves through a gruelling course requiring stamina and plenty of teamwork, all while raising funds to bring to life projects that enhance the wellbeing and experience of patients, service users, carers and staff.
Representing Community Neighbourhood Nursing are Hannah Kershaw, Interim Head of Nursing; Claire McEntegart, Assistant Director of Neighbourhood Community Nursing; and Senior Clinical Nurses Alison Aitken and Debbie Roberts. Joining them from Urgent and Digital Care are Alison Smith, Assistant Director of Nursing and AHP, and Senior Clinical Nurse, Claire Sturgeon.
The challenge marks a first for Mersey Cares and the team have been training hard in preparation through regular gym sessions, walks, and the NHS Couch to 5K initiative, sharing that they are feeling excited, but a little apprehensive of what to expect from the course at Cheshire County Showground.
With the challenge falling on World Mental Health Day, it is particularly special for the team. As mental health nurses, they know just how important resilience, compassion and support can be, and they’re proud to be raising funds to make a difference for patients and service users across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Raising funds for Mersey Cares
While Tough Mudder is known for its physical demands, it's also an event built around camaraderie, encouragement and steely determination.
Debbie Roberts, Senior Clinical Nurse in Community Neighbourhood Nursing Services, said:
"This challenge will test not only our physical strength and endurance, but also our determination, resilience and teamwork. We're excited to step outside our comfort zones, take on an unforgettable challenge together and push ourselves further than we thought possible.
"Knowing that every obstacle we overcome will help us support such a worthwhile cause makes the experience even more meaningful, and we're incredibly proud to be raising funds for a charity that makes such a positive difference to people's lives."
"None of us have done anything like this before, but we've been training together through gym sessions and walks, and we're excited to take on the challenge as a team."
The team's efforts will help Mersey Cares fund projects, equipment and initiatives that go beyond what NHS budgets alone can provide, helping to improve experiences and outcomes for people of all ages accessing mental health, community, learning disability, addiction and physical health services.
Fundraising enables additional support that can make a life-changing difference, including creative and therapeutic activities, wellbeing spaces, resources for children and young people, support for people living with dementia, community-based programmes and projects that promote inclusion, recovery and independence.
Every donation to a fundraiser helps us provide resources, experiences and enhancements that can improve wellbeing, build resilience, support recovery and create a better tomorrow for individuals, families and communities across the region.
We wish Debbie, Claire, Alison, Alison, Claire and Hannah the very best of luck as they represent Mersey Cares at one of the UK's most iconic challenge events. If you’d like to sponsor their challenge you can share a small donation here: Blood Sweat & Bandages - Tough Mudder for The Mersey Care NHS Charity
Thank you so much for your support!