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Ultra runner raises over £55,000 for pioneering new Cambridge Children’s Hospital after completing the ‘toughest foot race on earth’ 

Posted on by Danni Smith

A keen ultra runner who completed an epic challenge – known as the ‘toughest foot race on earth’ – has raised ÂŁ55,725 for the pioneering new Cambridge Children’s Hospital. 

Ed Tollemache took on the Marathon des Sables – referred to as ‘MDS’ by enthusiasts – in April to fundraise for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge which funds high-tech equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

The Marathon des Sables, which translates as ‘Marathon of the Sands’, is an epic challenge comprising of back-to-back ultras in the desert, with distances ranging from 30km-90km per day, for a total of 252 kilometres – the equivalent of six marathons. Choosing to run the toughest of all three MDS challenges – referred to as the ‘Marathon des Sable Legendary’ – Ed carried his own supplies of food and clothing in a rucksack weighing 99 kilogrammes through the blistering heat of the Sahara Desert in Morocco, where temperatures are known to reach as high as 50 degrees centigrade. 

Ed, who spoke about the challenge on ACT’s radio show, ACT’s Amazing People, on Cambridge Radio, said: “They say that 90% of the challenge in the desert is all in your head and the other 10% is the running bit. I did doubt myself at the start. Going into it you worry about getting sick or getting injured, you could turn your ankle and then your event is over, but I didn’t doubt my physical ability and once I’d got through day one, I felt a bit more comfortable with it.” 

Ed, 49, whose family own and run the Helmingham Hall and Gardens in Suffolk, completed the challenge with his cousin Tom, who was running for a mental health charity for ex-military personnel. Between them they raised over ÂŁ100,000 – with Ed raising an impressive ÂŁ55,725 for the pioneering new Cambridge Children’s Hospital (CCH). 

The hospital will be the first specialist children’s hospital for the East of England – and the first in the world to fully integrate treatment of children’s mental and physical health, alongside world-leading research. Children, young people, parents and carers from around the region have been involved in shaping the new hospital, from how it looks and feels to how it cares for patients and their families.  

MDS won its name as ‘the toughest foot race on earth’ because of the harsh environment and high temperatures. Ed, who was 48 at the time of the race, prepared for the heat by training at a specialist centre in London two weeks before leaving – where athletes are put into a heated chamber for an hour and run on a treadmill with a mask, carrying their rucksack. He also ran regularly, completing four hour runs every weekend. 

Ed, who was placed 15th out of 250 in the age 40-50 year-old category, narrowly missed coming in the top 10% overall – having been placed 138th out of a 1,000 runners. 

Asked what some of the worst things were about the challenge, he said lack of sleep. “The tents were very basic canvas covers propped up by sticks and we just had a rug underneath where we lay like a tin of sardines, with seven or eight of us in the tent. There were 1,000 people in camp with 52 different nationalities so the noise was constant but at night, if you did get to sleep, it wouldn’t be long before the wind would change direction and a sandstorm would come through and the sticks would collapse and you’d have to get out of your sleeping bag to prop them back up again. We definitely had three or four nights where we had very little sleep.” 

Competitors had to carry 750 millilitres of water each day – “but I drunk about 12 litres on the first day when we ran 82 kilometres and didn’t go to the loo once.” 

Asked what his luxury items were, Ed said: “Peanut M&Ms because they didn’t melt in the heat – and socks. I took five pairs to get me through, knowing each morning I could put on a nice, clean pair of socks and then bin the other ones.” 

He also survived on dehydrated food – porridge for breakfast and dinner made up of meals with higher calorie content like Spaghetti Bolognese, but because the water wasn’t always boiling, he remembers lots of meals with ‘crunchy pasta.’ Apart from M&Ms, another treat included crunched up salt and vinegar crisps – ‘because your body craves salt.’ 

Asked if he enjoyed the experience, Ed said: “It’s one of those things where you get back and there’s lots of excitement and euphoria and you’re very pleased to have done it and everyone is congratulating you and you’re on a high and it’s often confused with enjoyment, whereas at the time there were definitely periods where we were not enjoying it at all.” 

Memories which remain special, however, include one day when during a brief spell of rain everyone ran with their arms in the air – as well as the beautiful terrain.  

“There were times when you would walk up a dune and you would get to the top and have this incredible scenery. We’d run down sand dunes that hadn’t been trodden on before because the wind changes the direction of the dunes every year, so we were in uncharted territory for several days. That was pretty incredible.” 

During his chat on ACT’s Amazing People, which aired on Sunday 22nd June, presenter Gavin Richards asked about Ed’s well-known Godfather, King Charles. Asked if he had been in touch, Ed replied: “He has written so he knows I’ve done it. I haven’t seen him since I’ve come back but I’m sure that there will be congratulations when I see him next.” 

Also on the show – featuring EXTREME FUNDRAISERS – was Ed’s sister, Selina Hopkins, an ambassador for the children’s hospital with her niece Jenny, who did a daring wing walk to raise over ÂŁ7,000 for the children’s hospital. Strapped by harness to a metal rod, the pair flew at 150 miles an hour, at 1,400 feet. Selina said: “We were blessed with a beautiful day, we could see for miles.” 

Margaret Seaman, a 95-year-old great-great grandmother from Norfolk whose knitting creations of famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Sandringham Estate, also featured, raised an impressive ÂŁ300,000 for the children’s hospital.  

Click here if you would like to donate to the public campaign for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

To listen back to ACT’s Amazing People – Extreme Fundraisers – click here or visit Cambridge Radio’s website.

Leading hospital charity launches first radio show to showcase its impact

Posted on by Danni Smith

A LEADING hospital charity has launched its first ever radio show to share all the amazing stories behind its work – which in the last 30 years has seen more than ÂŁ150 million invested in improving patient care at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals in Cambridge. 

Listen to the first episode of ACT’s Amazing People below:

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), which this year celebrates its 30th birthday, is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie and funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.  

Joining forces with Cambridge Radio, ACT’s Amazing People – which airs on the fourth Sunday of every month – will meet the professionals, caregivers and inspiring fundraisers who help make the Cambridge hospitals such a special place. 

The show, hosted by Gavin Richards, presenter of the station’s weekly Saturday morning show between 10am and 12 noon, and Danni Smith, PR and Communications Lead at ACT (both pictured above), will spend time chatting to guests about their incredible stories, achievements and challenges.  

Guests on the show will include clinicians, researchers and fundraisers – and as part of their appearance on the show each of them will get to pick a personal song of their choice. Episodes will be available via catch up on both the Cambridge Radio website and ACT website, details at the end. 

David Bateson standing outside ACT offices
Fundraiser, David Bateson
Robotic Surgeon, Atanu Pal
Lead Cancer Nurse, Ingela Oberg

The first episode, an introduction to ACT, aired on Sunday 25 May 2025 and featured the inspiring story of fundraiser David Bateson (pictured right), who started fundraising when diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer which was no longer in his body following pioneering immunotherapy treatment.

Also featured is Robotic Surgeon Atanu Pal, who got involved with the ÂŁ1.5 million public appeal to raise money for a new robot for Addenbrooke’s by completing a virtual London Marathon, running a route around Cambridge which spelt the word ROBOT. And finally Lead Cancer Nurse, Ingela Oberg, who spoke about the impact ACT donations have had on cancer services at Addenbrooke’s. 

Introducing the work of ACT, and helping to celebrate the charity’s 30th birthday year, were ACT’s Chief Executive Shelly Thake and Paul White, Director of Communications and Impact. 

“We’re delighted to be joining forces with Cambridge Radio to produce this very special show, celebrating all the amazing clinicians, fundraisers and supporters of our charity,” Shelly said. “It was really special to be part of the first show, and I can’t wait to hear all the inspiring stories I know will be coming our way.” 

Paul said: “We have so many supporters – all of whom make such an impact within the hospitals – that it really is exciting to be able to celebrate them in this way as well talk about our important capital campaign to see two pioneering hospitals built here on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – the Cambridge Children’s Hospital and the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.” 

Julian Clover, Editorial Lead at Cambridge Radio, said: “Cambridge Radio regularly supports local and national charities through studio interviews, promotional campaigns, and a presence at local events. Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has so many fascinating stories to tell we thought a regular hour would spotlight some of their essential work”.  

Co-host of the show, Gavin Richards, said: “I’ve interviewed a lot of people connected to ACT on my Saturday show and all of them have such inspirational stories to tell. ACT’s Amazing People will give us the chance to celebrate them even more and I really hope the people of Cambridge and surrounding areas take the stories to their hearts and tune in.” 

June’s ACT’s Amazing People features extreme fundraisers – people who have gone to extreme lengths or put a lot of hard work and dedication into their fundraising to raise large amounts of money for the hospitals.  

Ed Tollemache finishing the Marathon des Sable
Knitter, Margaret Seaman

Guests on the show – set to air on Sunday 22 June at noon – include David Bateson; Ed Tollemache (above) who completed a series of gruelling desert ultras known as the Marathon Des Sables and has raised over ÂŁ55,000 for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital; and creative knitter, Margaret Seaman (above), a 95-year-old great-great-grandmother from Norfolk, whose amazing woolly installations have raised over ÂŁ30,000 for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

Whilst setting up her replica of the Sandringham Estate, Margaret – who has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to the community – found herself having an unexpected private audience with the late Queen Elizabeth. 

To catch up on ACT’s Amazing People, listen below or visit the Cambridge Radio website.

Cambridge institution leads the launch of 30th birthday celebrations for much-loved hospital charity

Posted on by Danni Smith

A Cambridge Institution has joined forces with a much-loved hospital charity to launch its 30th birthday celebrations. 

This year, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the official hospital charity for both Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, is celebrating its 30th birthday. 

To mark this special milestone, Fitzbillies in Cambridge hosted the launch of the birthday celebrations at its shop and tea rooms in Trumpington Street on Thursday 15 May – with a special gathering of fundraisers and hospital staff, all of whom have been directly involved with the work of the charity. 

For its 30th year, ACT is asking fundraisers to ‘pour a little kindness’ for the hospitals by hosting a tea party for Addenbrooke’s.  

Keeping with the theme, Fitzbillies, which has been serving Chelsea Buns and hearty breakfasts since 1920, unveiled a special window display which will be there for all its customers to see from now until September. 

As the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, ACT funds equipment and research, as well as improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide – and in the past 30 years alone, has invested more than ÂŁ150 million in the hospitals. 

The charity evokes a fierce sense of loyalty amongst its fundraisers, many of whom start their fundraising journey as a result of care that either they, or close family members or friends have received at the hospitals. As a result, fundraisers for ACT work tirelessly towards hitting their targets – many of them continuing to do so through some quite challenging times in their lives. 

To mark those personal journeys, all of the guests at Thursday’s birthday event had some kind of personal involvement and story to tell. Guests included: 

  • Consultant Colorectal and Robotic Surgeon, Atanu Pal, who ran a 26-mile virtual London Marathon during Covid, spelling the word ROBOT, to help fundraise for ACT’s ÂŁ1.5 million public appeal to buy a da Vinci Xi dual console surgical system for the hospital – which with the hospital’s existing robotic surgical systems has allowed some groundbreaking ‘firsts’ to happen. 
  • Ingela Oberg, Lead Cancer Nurse at CUH, who spoke to guests about all the cancer services ACT had directly funded including an outpatient’s garden and a modern, spacious Haematology Day Unit for patients with blood cancers which has allowed 200 more patients to be seen every month. 
  • Senior midwives Annie West, Tanya Cole and Becky Anderson who were part of a team of midwives who tackled Snowdon and the Yorkshire Three Peaks for ACT – raising over ÂŁ8,000 for the charity. ACT donated ÂŁ7.5 million towards the cost of a new extension to the Rosie maternity hospital, which was opened by the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 2013 and included an expanded birth centre and one of the biggest neonatal units in the UK. 
  • Fundraiser Joyce Cripps and her daughter Julie Halls. Joyce has pledged to fundraise for ACT ‘to the end of my days’ after daughter Julie underwent a lifesaving liver transplant at Addenbrooke’s. Joyce and her husband John are now close to raising ÂŁ30,000 for Addenbrooke’s by the end of the year. 

ACT was born out of two existing charities dating back to the 1990s – when a group of fundraisers got together to raise money for the first full body scanner in the City.  

Since then, ACT has donated in excess of ÂŁ150 million to the hospitals and as well as funding research and equipment for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, it is behind two major public campaigns to see the building of two new groundbreaking hospitals in the City – the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) and the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. 

Fitzbillies owners Tim Hayward and partner Alison Wright said it had been an easy decision to support ACT after Tim – described by The Irish Times as ‘arguably of the world’s best food writers’ – was admitted to Addenbrooke’s in November 2020 with COVID-19. He required treatment using a ventilator and suffered a pulmonary embolism. He was discharged after a month, having spent 14 days in a coma, and later described himself as “lucky to have lived.” 

Tim gave a very moving speech on the day, bringing a few tears to people’s eyes as he thanked staff for his amazing care. 

“My gratitude to Addenbrooke’s knows no bounds; I wouldn’t be here without the excellent staff and support of the hospital. Thank goodness for world-class care and the fantastic work of ACT. Long may it continue.” 

As part of their support, Fitzbillies has designed a special 30th chocolate cupcake for ACT, and for each one sold during the month of July, the bakery will donate ÂŁ1 to the charity. In addition, Fitzbillies will donate 20% of sales from the Addenbrooke’s collection of tea party items including scones, jam and cream, which can be found on their website. 

Fitzbillies Co-Owner Alison Wright, who won a lifetime achievement award in the Cambridge Independent Business Awards 2024 for rescuing the 104-year-old iconic bakery and cafe, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting such a wonderful organisation this summer. So many of our customers have a connection to Addenbrooke’s, either as residents of Cambridge or as medical or research staff at the hospital. The work of saving and improving lives is vital, and Fitzbillies is honoured to be able to contribute even in a small way during this milestone year of the charity. We love any excuse for cake, and we hope that our chocolate cupcake will raise plenty for ACT in July.” 

Speaking at the launch of the charity’s 30th birthday celebrations, the charity’s Chief Executive, Shelly Thake, pictured third from left with ACT colleagues, said:

“With Fitzbillies’ kind support it means two much-loved institutions within the City can join forces to raise money for a very special cause. Anyone wanting to host their own tea party for Addenbrooke’s can use Fitzbillies’ own recipes for their popular chocolate cake and scones which are included in a special tea party pack which can be ordered on our website.” 

Consultant Colorectal and Robotic Surgeon, Atanu Pal, who fundraised for the da Vinci robot, said: “Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has a huge impact in our hospitals, on a daily and ongoing basis, for patients and staff. Walking through the hospital, I see how the kind and generous supporters of the charity make a huge difference. Through the Robot Appeal, this fantastic support got us across the finish line to bring the benefits of robotic surgery to more patients in Cambridge.” 

“I was involved in fundraising for this. When I ran my 26-mile Virtual London Marathon back in 2021, during the pandemic, I really wanted to help raise funds for the new robot because, as surgeon here, I knew the great impact it would have on patient care, as well as in our work as surgical teams. Robot-assisted surgery is less invasive, being done through smaller incisions than open surgery, so promoting a faster recovery, reducing the hospital stay, so that patients can get back to their homes and families sooner.” 

Pictured at the time of his Virtual Marathon, with his route above, Atanu said: “Now when I think back to my run, proudly wearing my ACT running shirt, I remember passing some of Cambridge’s most iconic landmarks – the beautiful university buildings, the river, and of course Fitzbillies – my go-to for sweet treats as a medical student! I feel really proud to have been part of the team of supporters who helped ACT hit its ÂŁ1.5 million target to buy the da Vinci robotic system. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference ACT and their supporters make to the lives of those in our two hospitals and I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the 30th birthday of such an important charity.” 

Ingela Oberg, Lead Cancer Nurse at CUH, said: “Every day around 13 people face a new cancer diagnosis at CUH. Over the last few years, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has transformed cancer services at the hospital by funding projects such as the outpatient’s garden to allow cancer patients a quiet haven away from the hospital; a state-of-the-art surgical robot allowing minimally invasive surgery for prostate patients; a modern, spacious Haematology Day unit for patients with blood cancers allowing 200 more patients to be seen every month; 2 ECP machines to treat the terrible side effects following bone marrow transplantation and a ‘Biopsee’ machine to diagnose and identify prostate cancer.” 

“ACT’s support does not stop there, however, and donations to the charity will go towards the building of the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH), to be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029. As the first specialist cancer hospital for the East of England, it will allow clinicians to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.” 

Annie West, a senior midwife at the Rosie, said: “We’ve had ultrasound scanners and cots bought for us by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust so we get to see first-hand what money is being spent on – which is why as a team we decided to take on two challenges to help raise some money ourselves; Mount Snowdon in 2023 followed by the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge a year later. Knowing how important ACT is to the hospital is what kept us going during both our challenges and to know we raised over ÂŁ8,000 for the charity is such a satisfying feeling!” 

  • Afternoon tea party items from the Addenbrooke’s collection can be found on the Fitzbillies website.

     

Fundraiser turns to music to raise awareness of rare disease  

Posted on by Danni Smith

A hospital patient with a rare inflammatory disease of the nervous system has turned to music to raise funds for Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Ben Standing, 50, from Ipswich, was diagnosed with CLIPPERS Disease at the end of 2024 after months of investigative scans and a brain biopsy. 

There is currently no diagnostic test or cure for the disease which is so rare there are only 140 recorded cases across the globe. CLIPPERS, which is treated with steroids, affects a person’s balance and co-ordination and can affect the ability to speak and swallow.  

Both CLIPPERS and brain lymphomas react to the same treatment and one can often be mistaken for the other.  As a result, Ben was just one day away from starting chemotherapy for what was believed to be a brain lymphoma when a team of specialists at Addenbrooke’s halted treatment, calling for further investigation. 

This led to another scan that showed a very different picture to one several months earlier, with changes in the pons area of the brain more in line with CLIPPERS.  

Ben said having his chemo treatment called off the day before it was due to start was a huge shock – but something he is incredibly grateful for. 

“I was due to have the lines fitted in my arms on the Friday. On the Thursday night, the day before my treatment was due to start, the team at Addenbrookes flagged the fact they could see infection but described the biopsy results as inconclusive so pulled the treatment and called for more tests. I was fed up at the time but in hindsight it stopped me having unnecessary chemotherapy.” 

Ben is now under the care of a team of specialists at the Neuro Immunology Clinic at Addenbrooke’s, including Dr Ed Needham (pictured with Ben below), a consultant neurologist who is one of only 10 or 11 CLIPPERS specialists in the UK.   

“One of the tricky things with CLIPPERS is that it happens in a part of your brain that is really, really important, and so doing a brain biopsy, which is the gold standard test that we would often go to for difficult diagnoses, would lead to significant disability. As a result, we are reticent to do that so we very much rely on scans,” he explained, adding: “Sometimes the findings are very typical and you can diagnose it easily from the scan, but other times it can be far trickier.”  

“Ben’s case was a very unusual presentation of an already very unusual, rare condition. Although you wouldn’t have looked at his first scan and thought it was CLIPPERS, his scans changed over time, raising this as a possible diagnosis, and fortunately he was able to have a biopsy early on as the area affected was not in the area of the brain usually affected by CLIPPERS.” 

Dr Needham said the disease, which has no cure but is treatable through medication, is tricky to diagnose. “CLIPPERS is really difficult in its similarity to lymphoma. The scans can look identical, as can the response to steroids. We also think that there are some patients that have CLIPPERS who go on to develop lymphoma, but of course the counter argument to that is that perhaps the CLIPPERS was a misdiagnosis and it was actually lymphoma from the start.” 

“Fortunately, if a patient with CLIPPERS was mistakenly given chemotherapy it would not be a catastrophe, as lymphoma treatment would likely be a highly effective treatment for CLIPPERS, but potentially a bit too strong. It would help your symptoms and your disability, but it could put you at higher risk of complications like infections.” 

He said the process used to eliminate different scenarios in Ben’s case was a ‘perfect team effort’ adding:

“There were a lot of people involved in getting to the bottom of Ben’s case, and the communication between these professionals was very good. Genuinely with things like this, a system should not rely on a single person to diagnose an unusual condition, but it is the importance of the team approach that shows it is working.”

Ben first noticed something wrong whilst on holiday in May 2023 when he started veering across pavements when walking. 

“I was bumping into whoever I was walking next to. Within two weeks, I would be falling off the kerb into the side of the road. I would redirect myself back onto the pavement and it would happen again. It would be like I had had ten pints of beer but I have never had ten pints of beer in one go in my life, ever!”

Ben in healthier times

On his return to the UK, Ben was referred to hospital for a brain scan which consultants believed to be a brain lymphoma with sinister results, a type of brain cancer. Ben was told if they didn’t treat it, it would be “life-threatening.” 

He was then referred to Addenbrooke’s where he underwent a brain biopsy and whilst waiting for the results was put on a course of steroids. “Within half an hour, I was walking 99% normally again,” he said. However, after the dosage was reduced, his symptoms worsened.  

As well as his walking, his speech has slowed and Ben starts to stutter at the end of the day when his medication starts to wear off. 

Ben, who has not been able to work since his diagnosis, said the care he was given by Addenbrooke’s has made him want to give back to the Neuro team. He began writing computer-generated songs about his CLIPPERS and hopes to raise ÂŁ10,000 with his song, Powered by Love, in the hope it will help fund a future diagnostic test or cure for the disease.  

Describing his style as ‘upbeat and cheesy’ Ben has already attracted a large following on his YouTube page, with 1.5 million views and 54,000 subscribers.

“Addenbrooke’s have been amazing from day one, ringing me twice a day after I had been in hospital to check if I was ok. I dread to think how much money has been spent on my care and operations, so if I can do this and possibly help find a cure for CLIPPERS or an early diagnosis, it would be amazing.” 

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie and funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

Dr Needham said he would not have his career, as one of the few CLIPPERS specialists in the UK, had he not received funding from Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, who provided the funding for a clinical research fellowship before going on to gain his PhD.  

He called for more funding for early research saying:

“I wouldn’t have been able to get my PhD and have my research career if I hadn’t had the ACT funding.  It is about investing in the person to be able to then go on and do research in the long term.” 

Ben’s website, which includes a link to his Just Giving Page, can be found at: www.benstanding.com. His page also includes a link to Powered By Love, the song he is using to launch his ÂŁ10K fundraising appeal for Addenbrooke’s Neurology department. 

ACT encourages people who have lost loved ones to remember them with a special walking event in May

Posted on by Danni Smith

ACT is encouraging those who have lost loved ones to remember them by taking part in a special fundraising event throughout the month of May. 

Walk to Remember encourages those who have lost someone close to them to walk 30 miles in their memory. 

“It can be anywhere from a walk in one of your favourite places – to somewhere that holds special memories of your loved one,” said Emily Willdigg, Community Relationships Manager at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). 

Explaining why the event was so special for people, Emily said: “Losing someone you love, whether it’s a husband, wife, child, parent, grandparent or friend, is such a hard thing to go through and often one of the things people find the hardest is being able to talk about their loss afterwards. Even if they have people close to them that they can talk to, there are always going to be those times when the experience of losing someone can feel very sad and isolating.” 

“With Walk to Remember, what we really want to do is to be able to give people that special way to remember the person they have lost and acknowledge the imprint that that person has left on their heart.” 

Funds raised from Walk to Remember will go to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals that funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

Anyone who takes part in Walk to Remember is being asked to raise a suggested minimum sponsorship of ÂŁ150. In addition to this, walkers can post a special message on a dedication wall on the charity’s website – allowing them to post photos with special messages to their loved ones. 

“The dedication wall is such a lovely way for people to really honour and remember the person they lost and to share those lasting memories of the person they love,” Emily added. 

One of the fundraisers who took part in the event last year, and posted a memory of her husband Jonathan, was Rachael Tuley-Auld, from Cambridge.  

“I decided to take part in last year’s Walk to Remember, to pay tribute to my beloved late husband Jonathan. So many Addenbrooke’s staff, who cared for Jonathan over the 13 months he battled to recover, were truly remarkable. We were married in the Lewin Rehabilitation Unit, shortly before he died, so the hospital will be forever close to my heart.” 

“Walking over a mile each day enabled me to reflect on and honour his memory, whilst raising funds for Addenbrooke’s. Highlights included following the Dinky Door trail around Cambridge, as well as seeking out the giraffe installations dotted around the city.” 

To register for your place in this year’s Walk to Remember now, visit:  www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/events/walk-to-remember 

To view the dedication wall, visit: https://act.dedicationpage.org/walktoremember 

Former cancer patient to run sixty miler from Swavesey to Spurs ground to raise funds for Addenbrooke’s cancer services

Posted on by Danni Smith

A former cancer patient who has spent over twenty years completing challenges after being given the all-clear following his testicular cancer diagnosis is now set to complete his latest challenge – an ‘ultra’ 62 mile-run from his home in Swavesey in Cambridgeshire to the football grounds of Tottenham Hotspur in London. 

Sean Papworth, 50, an avid Spurs fan, will complete what he is calling the ‘Swavesey to Spurs SIXTY Miler’ with his godson Max Rose, 22, an avid Liverpool fan – with both men intending to cross the finishing line in each of their team’s strip. 

Setting off from The Green in Swavesey on Saturday 26th April, the pair – who only recently completed the Cambridge Half Marathon – will not only cross the line in two different football strips but will arrive a day before the two Premier League Teams are set to play each other.  

Covering a total of 62 miles, Sean and Max will follow a route running along paths and through villages parallel to the A10. Friends and family will follow in a support vehicle with others on bikes. Setting off at six in the morning, with just a few stops along the way for food, the pair are expected to take between 12 and 15 hours to reach their destination.  

Describing the ultra as ‘unchartered territory in running’ for him, Sean said; “I am going to have to dig deep to achieve this. It’s going to be a tough run. Just training doing 19 miles, I can feel it in my legs.” 

Sean, who has completed numerous fundraising challenges since being given the all-clear from testicular cancer 20 years ago, is hoping to raise over two and a half thousand pounds for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust as well as mental health charity Mind, as a way of thanking staff at Addenbrooke’s who treated both him, and his dad, who sadly died from bowel cancer when Sean was just 12 years old. 

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie and funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. 

Sean was diagnosed with testicular cancer back in 2003 when he was just 28. He had two baby girls at the time and, as a joiner, had just set up his business making staircases. He said his wife, Kelly, had to bring the girls up while he was undergoing treatment, which involved surgery followed by intense rounds of chemo. His cancer then spread and surgeons had to cut open his stomach to remove a lot of lymph nodes.  

He was given the all-clear a year later and went on to have a boy, completing his family of three: his eldest daughter Nevie, now 25; middle daughter Teagan, 22, and son Dexter, 18. 

But despite his own battle with cancer, Sean said it was losing his dad from bowel cancer when he was just 12 years old that left the biggest imprint on his life. 

He says the nod to mental health is his acknowledgement of how tough it was to lose his dad. He says while he can talk very openly about his own cancer, he found it really hard to talk about his dad growing up, and counselling later in life really helped him. 

“My dad had bowel cancer and it was very quick. I remember him being ill in the September and him coming out of hospital in the December. I remember my mum telling me it was terminal and that he had come home because he didn’t want to be in hospital when he died and then we lost him in the January.”

“As much as my cancer was hard, the toughest thing I’ve ever had to go through was losing my dad.”

“I used to clam up about my dad especially. I think because I was such a young age. But then I had some counselling, when I was about 20, and then some more a couple of years ago. As the years have gone by, I’ve talked about it but at the same time put a bit of a brave face on and just sort of taken it in my stride rather than actually going, ‘that was quite a big thing that happened to me.”

Describing cancer as a ‘horrible, cruel disease’, Sean says he had to turn to counselling again more recently after reaching middle age and losing other friends to cancer as well as a close friend to suicide last year. 

“I just think when you get to this age you evaluate things a lot more. I had a couple of years where everything was happening at once and it sort of took its toll.” 

Since his recovery Sean has set himself numerous challenges including biking from the UK to Sweden; completing Lands End to John o’Groats; running the London Marathon last year and the Cambridge Half Marathon this year, along with the 2025 Paris Marathon – with the grand finale (for now!) the ‘Swavesey to Spurs SIXTY Miler’.  

Sean says all of the challenges he has set himself are a nod to those who have not made it through their treatment and says: “I’m still here and I’m still fine. That’s why I am doing this run, not just to raise money but to prove I can and because I’m alive and just the fact that a lot of people don’t come out of hospital alive.”  

Recalling his time on the ward, Sean says he remembers a 13-year-old being treated for cancer – “which was really humbling” – and a man around his own age, who also had testicular cancer and had the same operation as him.  

“He later died and I remember his wife messaging me to say that they had lost him and that’s why I do everything I do. It’s in memory of all those people who haven’t made it, not the people who do. To me, if you’ve had cancer and got through it then you have to do something good with that.” 

He also remembers his eldest daughter coming to see him in hospital when she was only three.

“I remember seeing her little face coming into the ward. Her face dropped when she saw me, and things like that really stick with you.”

But as hard as his experiences have been, Sean says remembering how lucky he is helps him to keep going.

“Everyone gets low moments in their life and you can’t always snap out of them quickly but when you get into a better place you can tell yourself not to feel sorry for yourself because there are lots of people going through awful things like cancer, including little children. You can have a moan and feel sorry for yourself but that’s the slap on the face you need to keep going.” 

Sean will start the run from his home in Swavesey to Tottenham Hotspur football grounds in an ACT t-shirt but plans to have several t-shirt changes along the way, including a couple of shirts he is having designed with his sponsors’ names on. However, he plans to cross the finishing line in his Tottenham Hotspur shirt. Max – who is the son of his close friend Simon, whose kids have all grown up together – will be wearing his Liverpool strip.  

Asked how he thought they would both manage the run, Sean said: “Max is more than half my age and a lot fitter than me but he’s never done a marathon before so I’ve got that over him because I’ve had that experience. As far as rivalry goes though, it only goes as far as our football teams, not the run. We are going to need to have each others’ backs for this run and be strong for each other.”   

Cambridge is set to have its own cancer research hospital, to be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029. The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) will be the first specialist cancer hospital for the East of England. It will bring together clinical and research expertise under one roof – allowing clinicians to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.

*** Sean will be auctioning off a Tottenham Hotspur pennant signed by some of the current squad – and anyone wanting to donate to his fundraising page, or sponsor him ÂŁ200 for a logo on his running shirts – should go to Sean’s Give Wheel page at: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/5937/sean  

ACT celebrates first corporate partner to raise over half a million in fundraising

Posted on by Danni Smith

A LEADING hospital charity that funds cutting edge equipment and groundbreaking research for Addenbrooke’s is celebrating its first corporate partner ever to hit half a million pounds in fundraising.

The impressive total comes after a seven-year partnership between Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) and Cambridge Commodities in Ely, the longest strategic corporate partner the charity has had.

Following a year of fundraising, staff at Cambridge Commodities visited the ACT offices to hand over a cheque for £77,000, raised with the firm’s annual ball and some office events – bringing their total over the years to £561,810.

CEO James Stevens (pictured right) and his staff voted to work with ACT seven years ago after staff expressed their desire to work with a local charity that benefits the lives of so many
staff, family and friends – and where their impact would be visible.

James said staff have thrown themselves into fundraising challenges over the years, saying: “In the seven years we’ve been working with ACT we have been given the opportunity to be part of so many incredible events. We’ve Dragon boated, we’ve
handed out daffodils to CUH staff, baked cakes, we’ve half marathoned, human fruit
machined, dressed up, quizzed, wrapped Christmas presents, put on some
spectacular festive black-tie events, laughed, cried and had the most memorable of times. These events haven’t just raised much needed money for ACT but have brought our team, Team CC, closer together and added purpose.”

Claire Billing, Director of Fundraising at ACT, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to celebrate this amazing achievement with James and his team. This is the first time any of our corporate partners have raised over half a million pounds so we would like to thank everyone at Cambridge Commodities for all their hard work and support over the years.”

As the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, ACT – which celebrates its 30th birthday this year – funds cutting-edge equipment and groundbreaking research above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide. Funding makes real inroads in patient care, benefitting families in the East of England and beyond.

James said: “We are so lucky to have such an incredible hospital on our doorstep so staff get a chance to say thank you and I get a huge amount of pride seeing our staff volunteering for an event when it would be so much easier for them to say no!”

Since fundraising for both Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, James and his team have had many first-hand experiences of seeing the fruits of their labour.

One member of staff, Emily, received one of the Christmas presents her company funded and she helped wrap after being admitted to the Rosie at Christmas, after going into labour early.

Another member of staff to experience the direct impact of their fundraising is Natalie Scott Paul, the firm’s Head of Payroll, who organises the Annual Christmas Ball every year with finance manager Carly Purell.

“One of the things we wanted to do was pay the salary of a play therapist. That year my daughter was admitted to Addenbrooke’s, and the play therapist came to see her while she was waiting to be seen. I texted everyone at work and said, ‘we did that!’”

Asked for some of his team’s favourite moments, James said: “The daffodil giving, which we have funded, is always a fantastic event because we get a chance to personally say thanks to all the hospital staff whilst handing out bunches of daffodils. And it would be impossible not to mention the Christmas gift giving day we had late last year when we were able to give the gifts we’d raised money for and wrapped directly to the patients. This was made even more special by five very close friends mentioning to me after Christmas that their friends and family received, and very much appreciated, their gift and card.”

James, whose passion for working with ACT led to him to volunteer as a trustee, where he currently chairs the Fundraising Committee, said he never expected to be working with ACT for as long as he has.

“We were originally aiming to raise ÂŁ20,000 for our 20th birthday which once achieved turned into the best addiction to raising more. I couldn’t be prouder of the team, our supporters and the ACT staff for making it all so much fun. What better feeling is there than bringing a smile to someone’s face and making people happy?”

Praising James and his team, Claire said: “By donating to ACT they – and anyone else who donates to our charity – know that all the money raised will go towards funding groundbreaking research and high-tech equipment to improve the lives of patients, families and staff at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.”

“Examples of this include the first MRI Scanner Wrap in the UK, which ACT supporters funded. The work, carried out by Grosvenor Interiors, completely transformed the MRI scanner by wrapping it in nature-themed images, meaning
many more patients are now able to go through with their scan first time, resulting in earlier diagnoses which saves lives as well as thousands of pounds in patient care for the NHS.”

“Another example is the £1.5 million public campaign which paid for a second da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system for Addenbrooke’s which is helping to cut waiting lists and provide surgery that is less invasive, allowing patients to go home earlier; in hours as opposed to days or weeks.”

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with James and his team who now feel like more of an extension to the ACT team as we have built such a strong working relationship with them over the years.”

Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager at ACT, said: “We are so grateful to everyone at Cambridge Commodities for everything they have done. James and his team work tirelessly throughout the year, every year.”

“One of the joys of being a charity partner with ACT is that staff can really throw themselves into fundraising and be as involved as little, or as much, as they like. It can be anything from taking part in one of our exciting fundraising challenges, helping out at events, getting involved in a special project within the hospital itself or speaking to supporters within the hospitals. The possibilities are endless.”

To find out how James balances the needs of running a business with fundraising, please visit: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/corporate-parternships

If you are a corporate and would like to get in touch about opportunities to work with ACT, please email: corporate@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

To contact our fundraising team email: fundraising@act4addebrookes.org.uk and to donate please go to: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate.

Every patient in Addenbrooke’s to receive gift on Christmas Day thanks to Cambridgeshire firm’s fundraiser

Posted on by Danni Smith

‘Magical’ and ‘rewarding’ were the words used to describe a day of handing out Christmas presents and chocolates to staff and patients to ensure that every patient in Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie on Christmas Day will have a present to open. 

The festive gifts were paid for by caring staff from Ely firm, Cambridge Commodities, who spend the year fundraising for the two hospitals through Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). 

An annual Christmas Ball focuses on giving back – with proceeds from the event ensuring that every patient in hospital over the festive season will receive a gift. Their thoughtfulness extends to all the staff too, who receive a box of chocolates in appreciation.  

Handing them out last week, ready for Christmas, was a team of staff from Cambridge Commodities and ACT. 

James Stevens, CEO of Cambridge Commodities (fifth from left), said: “One of the most special times in the year is Christmas and every year, at our annual festive Ball, we raise money to pay for every patient who wakes up on Christmas Day to receive a gift.” 

“It’s just the most incredible feeling to have spent the day with members of my team who have been handing out presents they wrapped only a few days ago.“ 

“One of my favourite feelings from today is we get to wake up on Christmas morning knowing that hopefully we have brought a smile to someone who is not having the best time, and if we can bring a little bit of love and a smile to people’s lives, that makes my Christmas.” 

Nikki, one of James’ team of helpers, (first on the left), said the day had extra special meaning for her as it marked the one-year anniversary of her dad’s death. 

Her dad, Michael, had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and had been cared for by staff at Addenbrooke’s.  

“He had chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at Addenbrooke’s and the staff were just amazing. It seems insignificant giving out chocolates as a way of saying thank you but the staff don’t realise the work they do. My dad was a single parent and we were incredibly close and the staff were just phenomenal with him. No question was ever too silly. Their care was second to none.” 

“Today has been incredible. As well as the presents for patients, we have bought a box of chocolates for all the staff and although it’s only a box of chocolates to say thank you, today has been very, very rewarding.” 

Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager at ACT said: “Today has been so magical and really demonstrates the difference that a heartfelt act of kindness makes and the strength of partnerships and making a difference together.” 

Paul White, (first on left), ACT’s Director of Communications and Impact, said: “Being in hospital at any time is really difficult but never more so than over Christmas. Showing staff and patients that there are people out there thinking of them and caring makes a world of difference. Cambridge Commodities have been working towards this all year and for them to be here today to be part of it is fantastic.” 

Ashwitha Rai, a nutrition assistant who will be working both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, thanked ACT and Cambridge Commodities saying: “It makes a lot of difference for the staff as well as the patients.”  

As well as handing out presents to staff, James also got to visit one of the wards where some of the elderly patients will be spending Christmas Day. 

Ninety-year-old Cynthia, pictured with Paul and James, had only been admitted the night before. She said she normally spent Christmas with about 16 or 17 family members including her son, grandchildren and great grandchildren and said receiving the special gift from Cambridge Commodities and ACT was “marvellous.” 

Ben’s Yard, in Ely, also got involved in the special event by donating their marquee and refreshments as a space for Christmas wrapping, providing their own team of staff to help wrap presents too. 

To find out about volunteer opportunities at ACT, visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/volunteer 

Corporates who would like to support ACT as Charity of the Year can also get in touch by emailing: corporatepartnerships@act4addenbrookes.org.uk 

Celebrate 30 Years of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust with the Adventure of a Lifetime! 

Posted on by Danni Smith

In 2025, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) will celebrate three decades of making a difference—and we’re inviting supporters to mark this milestone in an extraordinary way, joining us for the adventure of a lifetime: a trek across the Great Wall of China in May 2026! 

This unforgettable challenge combines breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and the opportunity to support groundbreaking care and research at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Over five days, participants will explore a remote section of the iconic Great Wall, trekking from Gubeikou to Jinshanling and Simatai. Along the way, they’ll be immersed in the stunning scenery of green hills and mountain peaks while walking in the footsteps of history. 

But the journey doesn’t stop at the wall itself. Trekkers will enjoy authentic Chinese cultural experiences, including stays in traditional guesthouses and delicious local cuisine, creating memories that will last a lifetime. 

“We are so excited to expand our portfolio of events and launch this bespoke, international trek to our supporters,” says Bec Beattie, Community Fundraising Manager. “This is an amazing way to experience a bucket list destination all while raising funds for the Addenbrooke’s and Rosie Hospitals. Making a difference to patients’ lives whilst having the experience of a lifetime.” 

This tough but rewarding challenge is perfect for anyone looking to push themselves while making a meaningful difference. With just 30 exclusive places available—one for each year of ACT’s incredible impact—it’s an opportunity to celebrate this milestone in a truly unforgettable way. 

Discover More: 
To learn more about this incredible adventure, join ACT for a discovery evening: 
When: Thursday, 23rd January 2025, 6:00 PM 
Where: The Old Bull Inn, 56 High Street, Royston SG8 9AW 
Register: Email fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk to secure your spot. 

You can also find out more here.

Bestselling author and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here finalist Rev. Richard Coles backs public appeal to see brand new children’s hospital built in Cambridge 

Posted on by Danni Smith

Bestselling author, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here finalist, and one-half of the chart-topping 1980s band the Communards, Rev. Richard Coles has backed the public appeal to raise money for the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital – describing the need for one as ‘urgent.’

Speaking at a special literary lunch to promote the latest book in his number one bestselling crime series, The Canon Clement Mysteries, just days after his release from the jungle, Richard praised Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s public appeal for the children’s hospital which will be the first of its kind in the East of England.

Cambridge Children’s Hospital (CCH) will be unique in treating mental and physical health together under one roof, alongside world-leading research delivered in the Cambridge Children’s Research Institute (CCRI).

Richard praised the appeal, saying: “It really surprises me to hear that there hasn’t been a children’s hospital here in the East of England until now, because the need is so urgent, and so anything you can do to get some energy and commitment into that would be fantastic.”

“I’m specially delighted to hear that it’s something that provides for both mental health needs and physical health needs, because it’s a scandal the state of provision, or lack of provision, for children and young people with severe mental health problem. I’m delighted that is going to be worked into it from the beginning and I hope that people give generously because you will never get better value for money than a pound spent on this.”

“I think one of my great discoveries as a vicar was that you don’t have to whip people up into a frenzy, because actually there’s loads of goodwill already there. It just takes, I think, a few people with a plan and a bit of energy, and you’ll be amazed what you can do.”

“A huge thank you from me for everyone who has supported the campaign and continues to do so.”

Rev. Coles was guest speaker at the lunch organised by Peterborough Mayor, Cllr Marco Cereste, to raise money for three of his charities over the coming year, including the Salvation Army, Anna’s Hope, and the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

Booking Richard for the literary lunch in Peterborough was a coup for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital Fundraising Group who booked him months before he was even asked to be a contestant on I’m A Celebrity.

Speaking to a packed venue of 150 guests, there to listen to him talk about his latest book Murder Under The Mistletoe, Richard said: “I had no idea when I agreed to the lunch that I might also appear in the jungle. It certainly never crossed my mind that I would get so far, but it was never really a question of not attending this lunch. Peterborough is relatively local to where I grew up, it was the diocese under which I served, and so the area is a bit like home to me. And the charities this helps are so important.”

Richard’s stories had guests in stitches one minute and in tears the next as he recounted his extraordinary anecdotes and talked about his career as a vicar, his time in the Communards, the jungle, and his good fortune at finding yet another career as a successful writer and soon to be executive producer after retiring from the church now that his Canon Clement murder mystery series is being brought to TV screens in 2025.

When asked what his worst experience in the jungle was, without hesitation he replied – “the pickled herrings”, with the smell being so bad that the crew would leave the area, leaving him almost alone to deal with the stench.

As for his worst task – “It was the one where I had a glass bowl placed over my head, which was filled with creatures including cockroaches, which had a surprisingly bad smell. Despite wearing goggles, the cockroaches managed to get into my eyes, into my ears and up my nose!”

Speaking about his bestselling crime series, The Canon Clement Mysteries, Richard said: “Do you know how many vicar detectives there are in literature? Over 200! And only two of them are actually written by people who were or are vicars, and I’m one of them.”

Asked how much of his books are based on his real-life experiences as a vicar, Richard, who was a Church of England priest in Northamptonshire until his retirement in 2022, winked before replying: “Any likeness to people or places in my books is purely coincidental.”

“When I moved from being a curate in a busy West London parish, to the village of Finedon, colleagues joked that it would be all village fetes and judging vegetable competitions, but within my first week there was a murder so that showed them.”

“Being a vicar means you meet a huge range of interesting people, people open up to you about all sorts of things, and being a vicar isn’t so different to being a detective at times.”

He also revealed the decision to set his series, which features his latest mystery Murder Under The Mistletoe, in the 80s was a way to make his life easier as a writer.

“To be honest I was being lazy. Setting a story in the 80s means I didn’t need to work out how to incorporate things like social media and the internet, but also I didn’t want my detectives wings to be clipped because the killer was caught on someone’s Ring doorbell or they were let down by their own social media accounts. It made the story much more interesting, and also much easier to write.”

Richard said he hadn’t expected to remain in the jungle for as long as he did, as one of the final three – “how that happened I’ve no idea, I don’t even remember bribing anyone. I thought ‘keep going, keep going and try not to complain.’”

“I’ve only just returned from the jungle, so I’ve yet to experience too much attention as a result. I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career – a successful musician, vicar, broadcaster, I’ve written more than seven books, and now my murder mystery books are being turned into a TV series and so I find, in my retirement, now being an executive producer.”

“I’m fortunate enough to wake each day and wonder where the rainbow arc of life will take me that day. But I know from being a vicar that this isn’t the case for everyone. My parish was a deprived one, and many people had no choice – there were children who would wake up not knowing who the adults were that would be looking after them that day were. I helped to set up a charitable pre-school, through selling some land the church held, so that we could support young children with things like reading and writing.”

Of his varied career, Richard said: “I’d love to say it was a masterplan, but it really was one thing after another, I’m 62 and never had a proper job, so I’m probably a career adviser’s worst example. They haven’t all been successful either. The ones people know about are the ones that succeeded, but I’ve had my fair share of failures.”

*** Photos courtesy of David Lowndes