Belinda Neild, a Salford art teacher, has been raising money for St Ann’s Hospice for over 10 years and has recently hit the incredible milestone of £33,000.
Over the years Belinda, her husband Stephen and daughter Lucia have all taken part in fundraising, as a family of avid runners.
Belinda has taken on amazing challenges, including her most recent, running an ultra-marathon just two weeks after the London Marathon. Belinda said she used the marathon as a training race to prepare her for the Pennine Barrier Ultra 50 marathon.
“I’m so proud to have raised over £3,000 just from the ultramarathon alone. Taking on 50 miles in 12 hours, with hills, was definitely an experience I won’t forget. This run was so different to marathons, with much more elevation and challenging trails involved it was a real challenge but I did enjoy it.
“My mum was a patient at the Little Hulton site of St Ann’s Hospice before she passed away at home in 2011. My father-in-law and aunt have died at the hospice since, with lasting connections being made between our family and St Ann’s.”
Some of Belinda’s running highlights include running the London Marathon dressed as Forrest Gump – aka ‘Belinda Gump’,setting Guinness World Records running the fastest marathon as a pencil, a crayon and a Rubik’s Cube and running the Great Manchester Run half marathon and 10k on the same day, finishing with her family – dressed as a bumblebee!
Belinda is set to run another marathon next year, and another ultra marathon too – The Wall. This is a 70 mile ultramarathon that must be completed in 12 hours, starting in Gateshead and finishing at the Millennium Bridge in Carlisle. Stephen is also taking on this challenge, with the couple hoping to raise more for St Ann’s Hospice.
Belinda and her family have raised an incredible £33,000, marking an incredible milestone all in memory of their family members who were cared for by their local hospice.
Lucy Green, Fundraising Manager at St Ann’s Hospice, says: “Belinda is an absolute star, and her family too! We cannot thank you them enough for all their amazing fundraising yet again this year. The determination and passion for fundraising for St Ann’s Hospice is inspirational. Thank you team Neild!”
