Pulling power

For the fourth consecutive year, colleagues from around Sutton Coldfield have proved their mettle by dragging a Royal Mail van around the eight-and-a-half-mile course of the 2019 Great Midlands Fun Run.

The 12-strong team showed that no mountain is too high, including the aptly named ‘Cardiac Hill’ by harnessing up and hauling a 1,600kg Transit van around Sutton Coldfield before finishing off with a few well-earned sherberts.

Sutton Coldfield postmen Ross Bull, Stuart Wall, Russell Bow, Dan Allatt, Mark Prince, Mark Archer and Warren Perks were joined by Tamworth postman Steve Smith, Nova Leacy and Mark Sparkes from Erdington Delivery Office, and Simon Hatherall from Kitts Green Delivery Office.

The daring dozen raised more than £2,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Royal Mail matched their fundraising, taking their total to over £4,000, with sponsorship money still coming in.

The team wanted to find a unique way to say thank you to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for the expert care and support it has provided many of the team’s own children.

Sutton Coldfield postman Ross Bull chose to take part after his son Joshua spent most of the first year of his life there. Joshua has DiGeorge Syndrome, a condition affecting the chromosomes, which has led to complex heart conditions and developmental issues. After a number of procedures and on-going treatment at the hospital, six-year-old Joshua is now stable at home and, despite his condition, is learning to stand and walk unaided.

‘After basically living in the hospital with Joshua for a year and seeing the fantastic doctors and nurses at work I really just wanted to get involved and say thank you,’ said Ross. ‘We have a fantastic group of colleagues who are equally keen to do their part and this is the fourth year we’ve pulled the van for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

‘It’s always tough, but it’s worth every gruelling step, especially when you hear and see people’s reactions as you go past.’

Fellow Sutton Coldfield postman, Steven Smith’s five-year-old daughter Elizabeth, is treated at the hospital for Hip Dysplasia, where the joints of the hips aren’t quite formed properly. Since the age of two, Elizabeth has had numerous operations to help correct her condition, with her most recent procedure just six months ago.

‘I wanted to help raise money to help make life that little bit easier for the children being cared for at the hospital,’ said Steven. ‘Pulling the van was definitely hard work, but crossing the finish line just felt so good, and we beat last year’s time by 20 minutes! We’re so thankful to everyone who donated – four years on and the support for us is still as strong as ever.’

Serena Daw, public fundraising manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: ‘Our supporters are often inspired by their own experiences of our hospital, but pulling a two-tonne van behind them definitely goes beyond the call of duty! We are truly thankful for their heroic efforts and dedication to raise such a fantastic amount of money. It will help us do more for the 90,000 sick kids we treat every year.’