Meet Bridget – the 1,000-mile walker
Bridget Gunnewicht received a stem cell transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in 2019. Last year she took on the Country Walking Magazine challenge to walk 1,000 miles in a year to raise money for University Hospitals Birmingham Charity.
Bridget Gunnewicht was diagnosed with Myeloma in May 2018, beginning treatment straight away. Bridget underwent a Stem Cell Transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) in early 2019. Due to the tremendous care, 3 weeks later Bridget had reacquired enough immunity to be able to go home.
Bridget decided she wanted to give back to Ward 625 at QEHB after the wonderful care she received. As walking is one of Bridget’s favourite pastimes, she decided to take on the Country Walking Magazine challenge to walk 1,000 miles in a year. Bridget’s medical team encouraged her passion for walking to help with some of the symptoms, whilst her partner, Martin, always encouraged her to get her boots on and get out the door.
Raising money for University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Charity and Ward 625, Bridget, Martin, and Bridget’s daughter Emma, all took on the challenge walking an amazing 1,000 miles between February 2020 and February 2021.
Emma set up a GoFundMe page, asking all their friends, family, and supporters to sponsor them a penny a mile over the year, which would amount to £10. The family raised an astounding £2,500 throughout the year, with donations not only coming from the UK, but Germany, USA, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Israel.
Speaking of the outstanding care she received during her treatment, retired nurse, Bridget said: “I found that the skill and commitment by the staff went far beyond what would normally be expected. They went above and beyond every day! I was left feeling totally supported and in very safe hands. The staff were kind, they were fun, they were knowledgeable and competent. I believed I would get through it because the staff believed it. Ward 625 is to me exceptional.”
Bridget would like the money she has raised to go towards supporting the staff on the ward, either to purchase a piece of equipment or to help improve the environment on the ward.
Roisin Mooney, Fundraising Officer at University Hospitals Birmingham Charity said: “We cannot thank Bridget and her family enough for their fundraising. To walk 1,000 miles in a year is an amazing achievement, and we are so grateful they chose to support UHB Charity!”
If you would like to raise money to help support a specific ward or department across our four hospitals at University Hospitals Birmingham, simply click here to get involved today!
