Charity champ Lou takes on the Great Birmingham Run for QEHB Charity
On Sunday 14 October the Great Birmingham Run 2018 kicked off seeing thousands of runners take part in running an impressive 13.1 miles. Despite the downpour, the event was a roaring success and at times an extremely emotional one too.
Lou Baldwin was admitted back in November 2012 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Lou had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, specifically a meningioma. Thankfully the removal of the tumour was a success and found to be benign. The care and support that Lou and her family received during her stay at QEHB was in her husband Andy’s words ‘second to none as was the rehab and continued aftercare’.
Following her surgeries, in October 2016, Lou and Andy welcomed their beautiful baby girl Grace into the world; Grace was there to cheer on her Mommy at the event. This January Lou was given the all clear from the regrowth of her tumour. After an emotional few years she decided to take on the humongous challenge of running in the Great Birmingham Run 2018 to say thank you for the care that she received at the hospital. Poignantly, the half marathon took place six years to the day of Lou’s surgery that saved her life.
Lou said “To this day, we firmly believe that without the specialist care of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, our story may have been a little different and we’ll be forever grateful for their support. With this in mind we thought it was time to give a little back.
"As cliché as it may be, you never know if you’re ever going to need the specialist services of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, we certainly never thought we would. So, I hope you’re able to help me ensure that others can also benefit from the amazing facilities and staff at the QEHB in future”
Lou’s fundraising story didn’t begin with the Great Birmingham Run. She completed the Simplyhealth Birmingham 10K back in May and Andy took on a multitude of long distance cycling events such as Vyrnwy to Bala via Hellfire Pass and many more, all totalling in 2,000 miles! The couple are set to take on more events throughout next year too and hopefully raise even more money for QEHB Charity.
Rachel Learmonth, Senior Fundraiser for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “A huge congratulations to Lou for completing the half marathon at her personal best!
“All of the money raised will go towards ‘added extras’ that are over and above what the NHS can provide for patients who get treated at the hospital.”
Lou and Andy’s JustGiving page is still open so if you would like to donate to help them raise even more money, please visit their page here.
If you were inspired by Lou's story to take part in 2019's Great Birmingham Run, please click here and run for QEHB Charity!
