Macclesfield hospital staff set the pace

Above: staff and patients from the cardiac rehab team at Macclesfield Hospital during the 2023 walk

Staff and patients from the Cardiac Rehabilitation team at Macclesfield District General Hospital are taking part in their annual fundraising challenge for the 29th year.

Friends and relatives will be joining the team on Sunday 12th May to walk the six-mile route on the Middlewood Way, a sponsored event which was started in 1992 by a patient who had set himself a goal to raise some money as a thank you to the cardiac rehab staff who had treated him. 

The team, based at Macclesfield District General Hospital, have carried on his work and although the challenge had to be suspended for three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have walked every year since then. 

Paula Spray, Cardiac Rehab Lead Nurse, said “The walk is always great fun and is a lovely opportunity to catch up with patients past and present and their families. The money raised is an added bonus and it has allowed us to provide additional equipment and training to enhance patient care.”

The Cardiac Rehab team look after patients who have had heart attacks, heart surgery or procedures and those who live with the long-term condition of heart failure. The department promotes patient recovery and works alongside you to restore you to as full a life as possible following a diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Myra Harding, Cardiac Rehab Secretary said, “It’s been a privilege to take part in the event over the years. Our patients’ donations have funded rehabilitation aids and specialist training for our clinical staff that otherwise we would not have been able to fund. As an office based member of the team it is fantastic to meet and walk with the people who ring us for help and advice and it’s a testament to the team how many ex-patients still support us by walking and raising money many years after completing the cardiac rehab programme.”

Lily Preston, Fundraising Manager added: “Good luck to all the staff, patients and family members who are taking part in the walk! We’re so grateful to you all for your outstanding support of the cardiac rehab department and we can’t wait to hear how they get on.”

To find out more and donate to their cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/myra-harding-1710415223837.  

East Cheshire NHS Charity goes above and beyond standard Government funding to make your local NHS that extra special. From supporting staff health and wellbeing to providing toys to brighten up our young patients’ days to making long stay patients feel more at home – their mission is to make a visible difference. 

They raise funds to support Macclesfield District General Hospital, Knutsford Community Hospital, Congleton War Memorial Hospital and a range of community services. 

If you’d like to get involved in fundraising for East Cheshire NHS Charity, as an individual, group or workplace, or could nominate them as a charity of the year partner, get in touch with the fundraising team on ecn-tr.ecnhscharity@nhs.net  or visit https://eastcheshirenhscharity.org/