Physiotherapist Jen Ritchie and her husband Matt have gone the extra mile for our Room to Recover Appeal, raising an amazing £800 by taking on the Great South Run!
Jen, Team Lead Physiotherapist at St Peter's Hospital, joined thousands of other runners in Portsmouth to complete the challenging 10-mile route, with Matt alongside her every step of the way.
Their fantastic fundraising achievement will help us transform the Phoenix Room at St Peter's Hospital, creating a larger, more welcoming rehabilitation and social space away from the ward for our stroke patients.
Room to Recover - creating a space for better recovery
Our Room to Recover Appeal aims to raise £25,000 to create bright, inviting and relaxing designated spaces for patients, relatives and staff.
We want to create an environment where recovery is given the best possible start - a place to rebuild, regain and recover.
The improvements will include:
- Separate spaces for therapy and social activities.
- Specialist resources to support rehabilitation and recovery.
- A welcoming social space away from the ward where patients can spend time with their loved ones.
- A dedicated space for staff to relax and recharge.
Having access to comfortable, supportive spaces outside the traditional ward environment can make a real difference to patients' physical and mental wellbeing as they work towards recovery.
Our appeal is about more than improving rooms; it's about creating an environment that supports the people at the heart of our hospitals. Your support means so much to the patients who are working hard towards recovery and the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcomes and support long-term recovery.
A fantastic fundraising achievement!
Jen and Matt's efforts are a wonderful example of how our staff, families and supporters can come together to make a lasting difference to patient care.
Jen said:
“It was a fantastic event with loads of support on the way round, which was very much needed! The Room to Recover will make a huge difference to our patients – both for physical and mental health."
We are incredibly grateful to Jen and Matt for their enthusiasm, commitment and generosity. Their £800 contribution brings us another step closer to reaching our £25,000 target.
Could you take on a challenge for our hospital charity?
Inspired by Jen and Matt? Whether it's a running event, a sponsored walk, a cycling challenge or something completely different, there are lots of ways you can help support Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals Charity.
Every fundraising effort, big or small, helps us make a difference to patients, families and staff across our hospitals. If you would like to take part in a sporting event or fundraising challenge in aid of our hospital charity, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact
Thank you, Jen and Matt, for going the extra mile and helping us create a better place for our patients to rebuild, regain and recover!
