STAFF and residents at Westvale House Care Home in Old Hall, Warrington are celebrating because a member of their team has raised a whopping £1,550 for charity.
Divisional sale and marketing manager Amy Melia conquered the gruelling Great North Run to raise the money for Barchester Healthcare’s Charitable Foundation, which supports older people and other adults living with a disability or mental health problem by helping them to connect or re-connect with others in their local communities.
Amy laced up her trainers and used sheer grit and determination to complete the 13.1 mile half marathon course which starts in Newcastle upon Tyne and takes thousands of runners over the iconic Tyne Bridge finishing up in South Shields.
Amy has worked for Barchester Healthcare for more than five years and absolutely loves her job. No stranger to a fundraising challenge, when she knew she had secured a place in the Great North Run, things got serious! She immediately embarked on a strict 20 week training regime with a personal trainer., tackling weight lifting, hill running and interval training, all to ensure she made it over the finish line and raised as much money as she possibly could. She absolutely smashed her target and everyone at the home is delighted for her.
Amy said: “This was my first time doing the Great North Run and I absolutely loved it, despite the wind and the rain on the day! The atmosphere was fantastic and I am incredibly proud to have been one of the 60,000 runners who took part. I’m looking forward to my next challenge for the Foundation now, I have really got the bug!
“My mum met me with a celebratory can of Holsten Pils which is a family thing, we lost my Dad three years ago and no matter where we were going, my Dad always had a Holsten Pils. He was with me throughout the race, helping me through, so that can was for Dad.”
You can still support Amy. Please visit: https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2024.enthuse.com/pf/amy-melia where all donations will be gratefully received.
