Fitness fanatics fundraise for BCH Cancer Appeal

Fitness fanatics and their instructors from British Military Fitness (BMF) in Birmingham and Solihull have raised over £10,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital’s £4m Cancer Centre Appeal.

When BMF members heard that Liam, the teenage son of one of their members, Caroline Free, 47 and from Solihull, was receiving cancer treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, they decided to do their own challenge to help raise money for the Appeal. The Appeal is raising money to improve the lives of our 3,000 cancer patients and their families who are treated each year, by totally transforming the cancer unit facilities and accommodation.

Around 70 members from Cannon Hill and Solihull parks chose took part in one, two or three gruelling running activities, including climbing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in 12 hours or less; running a half-marathon - either the Bupa Great Birmingham Run or Nottingham Robin Hood Run or conquering the Midlands Major Series , a tough five or 10km run through mud, water, hills and around a range of obstacles.

After nine months of treatment, Liam was finally able to return home in time for Christmas and mum Caroline has been able to return to training. Not content with raising an amazing £10,000 for the Children’s Cancer Centre Appeal already, the BMF crew have already planned more fundraising for 2013.

BMF members and staff who train in Birmingham will join forces to run over 100km of adventure running, in any format they wish, choosing from events such as “Hell Runner” in February, a multi-terrain trail run in Stoke-on-Trent,  and ending with the Midlands Major Series in Shropshire in October. They aim to raise £30,000.

Louise McCathie, Head of Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, says: “We are thrilled that BMF decided to raise money for our Children’s Cancer Centre Appeal – and will continue to do so throughout 2013. We’d like to say a massive thanks to all the members and staff who have helped to raise these much-needed funds.”