Despite going above and beyond  during the pandemic, several members of staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust still found time to raise money for the Trust’s dedicated charity.

Clinical Pharmacist Paritosh Solanki raised £1,507 for the Paediatric department by setting himself the challenge of walking 100 laps of Ascot Racecourse on his days off.

It took him just over five-months to complete and resulted in him walking a total of 101 laps. With each lap equalling 1.67 miles, it meant the total distance covered was a whopping 167 miles.

Paritosh said: “I started my journey on 13 February not knowing how much money I was going to raise. Now it feels like I have finished a marathon. Thank you to my family – uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues for donations and words of encouragements.”

Dwayne Bardoe, a General Porter based at Maidstone Hospital, took on the incredible challenge of walking one million steps in four weeks back in May, and in doing so raised £375.

Twelve members of staff from MTW’s finance team also  their steps up in support of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Charitable Fund’s ‘Go the Distance’ challenge. Between them, they walked, ran and cycled almost 1,000km at locations including Maidstone, Teston, Bewl Water, Ashford, Folkestone and Sheppey.

Thanks to their active efforts, they raised £622 for the wellbeing fund which was set up last year in recognition of everything MTW staff have done during the Covd-19 pandemic with the money going towards staff wellbeing facilities, including bespoke rest areas, showers and lunchtime meals.

Five diagnostic radiography students cycled, ran and walked a total of 162 miles between them to help raise money for a video messaging service which is used by parents of premature and sick babies being cared for on the Neonatal Unit at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Alistair Dunnett, Shakeel Ahmed, Roshan Thapa, Tristan Maralit and Becky Faulkner, who all attend Canterbury Christ Church University and are currently working at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust as part of their studies, set themselves a three week window to raise £300 for the vCreate service. The team went on to smash their target, raising a total of £353, with the innovative new service enabling clinical teams on the unit to send video updates to parents when they’re not able to be at the hospital with their baby.

Michelle Bartsch, Associate Director of Fundraising for MTW Charity, said: “It’s incredibly inspiring that after nearly two years of unwavering commitment to their daily roles at the hospital during a pandemic these individuals have all found the time and energy to take part in, and raise funds for the projects that we support.

“The physical challenge of walking, running and cycling also has a very positive impact on their emotional health and wellbeing which is the next challenge we face as an organisation. Every step and every penny all count so a big thank you to everyone for all of their fundraising efforts. “

To take part in, or organise an event in aid of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital Charity, please contact the charity team on 01622 226428 or email mtw-tr.charity@nhs.net