Over 400 brave Brummies jumped, swam and climbed through a giant, chocolate-themed assault course last month, raising £25,000 for a local hospice.
The Chocolate 5k Obstacle Rush – which was organised by Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice – saw sweet-enthusiasts tackle 10 giant inflatables and other fun obstacles in pursuit of chocolatey goodies.
Obstacles included the inflatable ‘Pyramid Climb’, ‘Lifeboat Wobble’ and ‘Dive for Victory’ – with the latter involving wriggling or diving through giant blown-up beams.
Taking place at Cofton Park, the event is part of the Hospice’s ‘Chocolate 5k’ series, which recently picked up bronze for best fun run at the national Running Awards.
Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompas made a special appearance on the day, handing out goody bags full of tasty treats at the finish line.
Kate Miley, who is a nursing assistant at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, was just one of the daring participants to take on this one-of-a-kind challenge. Part of the ‘Hospice at Home’ team, Kate provides compassionate care and emotional support to people during their illness in their own homes.
She said: “I had so much fun taking on the Chocolate 5k Obstacle Rush for Birmingham St Mary’s. Even a bit of rain couldn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and everyone seemed to have such a laugh as they attempted to jump, climb or dive over the obstacles – and our chocolatey rewards definitely made the hard work worthwhile.
“Working as a nursing assistant at the Hospice, I see first-hand the vital care and support our nurses, doctors, counsellors, volunteers and more provide. I feel incredibly proud to care for people and their loved ones at what can be a difficult time, helping them to feel more comfortable and at peace. That’s why I wanted to take part in this event, so I could help raise funds for the Hospice, ensuring that we can continue to give people crucial support whenever and wherever they need it.”
Every day, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice cares for 400 people living with life-limiting illness across Birmingham and Sandwell. The Hospice helps people to live well with their illness, by offering personalised support in people’s homes, in local communities and at its building in Selly Park.
It costs £8 million each year to run the Hospice, over 60 per cent of which must come from voluntary donations, so it relies local people’s generous support to help fund its vital work.
