Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust teamed up with The Great Run Company for the first time in 2019. With the 10 mile and 5km races just a few days away, the Trust would like to wish all the runners the very best of luck.
The Trust have spent the last six months encouraging colleagues to sign up, organising weekly training sessions and providing Trust branded t-shirts for participants to come together and create a blue-wave of NHS staff through the streets of Portsmouth.
The goal was to encourage Trust staff to get engaged with exercise for the benefit of both their physical and mental health. As a result, over 125 team members have signed up to join the tens of thousands of other competitors as one team to walk, jog or run the 5km or 10-mile stretch this Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October
Nicole Cornelius, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, commented: “I am so proud of all staff across the Trust who are taking part in both the 10 mile and 5k races and would like to wish all of the runners good luck.
Our hospital is at the heart of our communities and I’m looking forward to taking part in the 5k race and joining colleagues in representing the Trust. See you at the finish line!”
Amberley Orchard, Ultrasound Team Leader at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, is taking part in the 10 mile event and said: “I’m taking part in the Great South Run for my own health, fitness and wellbeing. Two years ago I was the heaviest I’d been in my adult life. My physical and mental health were terrible so I decided enough was enough and alongside following a slimming plan, I began running to help aid the weight loss and have lost five stone to date.
“This is my second year taking part in the Great South Run. The enthusiasm and excitement from other participants makes the whole event so enjoyable. There really isn’t anything quite like it and the sense of achievement you feel when you cross that finish line is just amazing!”
David Hart, Partnerships Director at The Great Run Company added: “the Simplyhealth Great South weekend is a really positive new feature of the event. Good luck to all, but especially to the many who are taking part in their first ever running event!”