Para-triathlete and para-swimmer Tammy Barrett, who works as a paediatric nurse in the emergency department (ED) at Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital, is set to run three marathons in three weeks in aid of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s dedicated charity.

Tammy, who is missing her left forearm, will start her challenge this weekend by taking part in the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 3 October.

A week later she will run the Manchester Marathon on Sunday 10 October followed by the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris on Sunday 17 October. Each event will cover 26.2 miles around the city’s streets.

MTW’s dedicated charity helps to enhance the standard of care, services and facilities provided to patients, relatives, visitors and staff. All donations made to Tammy’s fundraising page (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tammy-pullen11) will go towards purchasing new toys and books in both hospital’s EDs, which had to be discarded at the start of the pandemic due to infection prevention and control measures.

The mum of four, who lives in New Barn, near Meopham, said: “I usually swim as a para-swimmer, and as a master up to international standard, and needed something to keep me fit throughout lockdown. So, I contacted a friend who also works on the frontline, and was just getting back into running after a hip replacement, to see if he would help me to start running again.

“We started in March and stayed within our bubble so we could continue running together throughout lockdown. I lost my dad 20 years ago to a heart attack and the London marathon was one of his favourite races so I was desperate to run it. I entered the ballot but didn’t get a place initially. However, I eventually won a place through the running club Istead and Ifield Harriers Running Club. I’d already entered the Manchester and Paris marathons and hadn’t realised at the time they were so close together. It’s going to be tough but I’m really looking forward to it.

“Thanks to the improvements in my fitness I am also back to competing as a PTS4 in paratriathlons and on Saturday 11 September I won the British Paratriathlon Super Sprint Series which I was thrilled about.”

Two other members of staff who work for MTW NHS Trust are also set to run the London marathon on Sunday.

Like Tammy, Steve Crouch, Systems and Catalogue Manager, is also raising money for MTW’s dedicated charity. People can donate to his page via the following link – https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=StephenCrouch&pageUrl=1

And Chris Sands, Chief Pharmacy Technician for Pharmacy IT Services, is raising money for Hunton and Linton Pre-school to create an ICT area for pupils to enjoy. To donate visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisSands1

To find out more about how you can get involved and support MTW’s dedicated charity, email mtw-tr.charity@nhs.net, call 01622 226428 or visit www.mtwcharity.org.uk