East Kent Hospitals Charity

17/06/2026

⚠️🏃‍➡️ Last places remaining in the Saucony London 10K race - the capital’s ultimate summer celebration of running, music, and city energy!

Every July, thousands of runners take over central London’s streets, racing past world-famous landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye on a completely closed-road route. With live bands and DJs along the way, the run is described as a street party with trainers on! 🎶👟

📆 The event is on Sunday 12th July, 2026. This is already a sell-out event, but we still have some charity spaces currently available, so why not sign up and run for East Kent Hospitals Charity?

We offer tips and support for all of our amazing fundraisers to help them meet their targets, and all participants in this event will receive access to free training runs, race day entertainment, a finisher medal, and rewards from partners.

For a charity place with us, you will be charged £26 (£25 + booking fee) and you must commit to raise a minimum of £200 for East Kent Hospitals Charity.

Book your place via the events section of our website: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/events/london-10k/

15/06/2026

Good luck to critical care sister Ruth Lukehurst, who is taking on three ultramarathons in three months to raise money to help grant wishes for dying patients.

Ruth, who works at William Harvey Hospital, hopes to raise £500 for the 3 Wishes Project, funded by East Kent Hospitals Charity. It allows staff to arrange meaningful wishes when time matters most, such as memory-making, comfort items or personal moments.

Ruth said: “The 3 Wishes Project helps bring dignity, compassion, and humanity to the most critical moments of care.

“It gives us the ability to go beyond clinical care and provide kindness when it’s needed most.

“Every mile I run is for the patients, families and staff who face these moments every day.”

Ruth has already completed the Three Castles 50km race, and the Rat Race The Wall event. She will then tackle the Rat Race Edinburgh to Glamis Castle, which is an incredible 100 miles, on Saturday, 25 July.

12/06/2026

🦽 A porter is swapping trollies for trainers to run between three Kent hospitals to raise money for the team who saved his life. 👟

Before joining East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Paul Cozens was drinking more than 20 cans of beer each day, plus a bottle of rum, using drugs, and felt life was not worth living.

But after opening up to his family, he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, and met alcohol and substance misuse nurse Julie Blake.

That was the moment he began to turn his life around, attending a 12-week course with the Forward Trust and stopping all alcohol and drugs.

The 54 year old said: “For three years, I thought my life was over.

“I just wanted to be out of it. So to sit here now and have a steady job and to be able to give back like this is bonkers.

“I am so lucky. I said to Julie I wasn’t going to drink again and I just knew I wasn’t; it was some sort of epiphany.

“Working at the hospital is the perfect reminder of me surviving – I smile when I come to work each day.”

Paul, who lives in Whitstable, was inspired to join the 2gether Support Solutions portering team after watching them at work while he was in hospital.

He said: “I spent a few days in the same area and I would see the same people at work. I noticed things like how they helped patients and visitors, and how friendly they were.

“I thought it was a lovely thing to be able to do, to play a part in making someone’s day better.

“My sister in law suggested I could do it, and when I looked online there was a portering job available so I applied.

“I’d never done a CV before, so I used a template online, and was offered an interview the next day, and then I got the job.

“Without this job and this place, the chances are I wouldn’t be here. It gives me joy to come in and know there may be someone sitting in a waiting room watching, and seeing me help someone may put a smile on their face.”

The idea for the running challenge came out of a desire to make people proud.

Paul said: “For 10 years, I didn’t do anything that anyone could be proud of, but after I turned my life around I realised that could be a possibility.

“I started running and I quite enjoyed it, so I applied for the London marathon but missed out on a place.

“Then I had an email about the Brighton marathon, and was successful, so I completed that in April for mental health charity MIND.

“When I came back to work after the marathon, I wanted to do something for the place that saved my life, and that’s when I decided to run between the hospitals.”

Paul will start at the emergency department of the William Harvey Hospital, and will run the first leg to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital dressed in hospital pyjamas.

He will change to a porter’s uniform for the final stage from K&C to the QEQM, to signify his journey from patient to porter. The whole route is 32 miles and Paul plans to complete the challenge in October, with plenty of training before then.

He said: “I’ll clock in at the William Harvey, and aim to finish within eight hours so I can end the shift at QEQM.

“I want to raise £1,000 for East Kent Hospitals Charity, and also to show that anything is achievable if you have the right support.

“If someone had said to me five years ago that I could walk into a waiting room and speak to people, or ask a doctor or a nurse a question, I would have said it would be impossible.

“But now I can help people and make them smile and that is the greatest blessing. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

East Kent Hospitals Charity fundraising officer Hannah Harvey said: “We are incredibly grateful to Paul for taking on this remarkable challenge in support of East Kent Hospitals Charity.

“His story is one of resilience, determination, and strength, and he should be immensely proud of everything he has overcome.

“Choosing to give back to the hospital that supported him is a truly inspiring gesture and reflects his generous spirit. We wish him every success with this challenge and thank him for his outstanding support.”

You can add to Paul’s fundraising at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-cozens-1779871426763

11/06/2026

A businessman is putting his best foot forward this June as he takes on a major walking challenge to raise funds for East Kent Hospitals Charity.

Paul Cain, 62, who lives in Faversham with his wife Jayne, is aiming to walk 500,000 steps - the equivalent of almost 240 miles - around Faversham Recreation Park by the end of the month.

Paul, a director at Cain & Co Bookkeeping Services UK Limited based in Canterbury, chose to raise funds specifically for Rainbow ward at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

He said: "I really feel for the little ones being in hospital. As a boy, I spent a lot of time in and out of hospital myself, so I understand how difficult it can be for children and their families."

Unlike some step challenges that count activity throughout the day, Paul is completing his challenge solely through dedicated walks around his local park.

The challenge also supports Paul's own wellbeing. Living with diabetes, he says walking helps him stay fit while providing valuable time to clear his mind.

He said: "It keeps me fit, helps with my diabetes and gives me headspace.

“But most of all, it gives me such a warm feeling helping the children to have a nicer stay whilst in hospital."

This is not the first time Paul has taken on an endurance fundraising challenge. Last year, he completed a one-million-step challenge for Diabetes UK, raising £600. Earlier this year, he also walked more than 250,000 steps to support Rainbow ward over Easter.

While he acknowledges there may be challenges along the way, including the risk of injury, Paul remains confident he will achieve his goal.

He said: "When I completed the million-step challenge, I suffered a lot of pain in my shoulders and arms, but the outcome pushed me through it. I'm very strong-willed - it'll get done."

Paul is encouraging others to consider taking on similar fundraising challenges.

He said: "Definitely give it a go, especially now summer is almost upon us. It's great to exercise and get out in the fresh air."

11/06/2026

We’re proud to be supporting Paul as he takes on a 32-mile ultra-marathon for East Kent Hospitals Charity, running between our hospital sites from William Harvey Hospital to Kent & Canterbury Hospital, and on to QEQM Hospital.

From patient to porter, Paul’s story is truly inspiring. Good luck, Paul – we’re all behind you! 👟💙

We are so proud to be supporting our colleague Paul Cozens, a Porter at QEQM, as he takes on this latest challenge. Running an ultra-marathon for the hospital that he credits with saving his life is remarkable.

Paul will be running 32 miles for the East Kent Hospitals Charity in October and between now & then we want to give him all the support we can.

Go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-cozens-1779871426763?utm_medium=FR&fbclid=IwY2xjawSXbghleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeg9XkxtGImV2rVfsLhiTNsQBjkQZhcc4dc_DxUEgtSy7dsTzXNnBzphHjA-Q_aem_YWdncwBTh34k6B_xuNCe83NGBJ5a&brid=YWdncwEOyn2xC1PsppdGkrujbVIp

Good luck Paul – we’re all rooting for you. 👟

Read more about Paul’s story here: https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/news/paul-s-journey-from-patient-to-porter/

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust NHS NHS Professionals NHS Jobs

11/06/2026

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ A huge thank you to Daniel Evans and Ian Merrick, who recently took on the Hackney Half Marathon for us to raise funds for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at QEQM.

Daniel completed the challenge to give back to the SCBU team who cared for his son Harry when he arrived eight weeks early. Daniel and his wife Amy have shared how grateful they are for the incredible support they received during such a difficult time. We held a cheque presentation with the team and it was especially meaningful to meet some of the staff again who had cared for Harry and their family.

Together, Daniel and Ian raised an incredible £1,537. Ian took on the half marathon alongside his childhood friend to support the cause, completing the course in an impressive 2 hours and 9 minutes.

We’re also incredibly grateful to Ian’s employer Saga Holidays who matched Ian’s fundraising total through their match funding scheme, doubling his £305 donation to £610 and helping to make an even bigger difference for families supported by SCBU.

Thank you, Daniel, Ian and Saga, for your generosity and support. Every pound raised helps us continue supporting patients, families and staff across East Kent Hospitals. 💙

If you’d be interested in taking on a half marathon, we have charity spaces in the Hampton Court Half this October and the London Landmarks Half in April. Find out more by visiting the events section of our website.

10/06/2026

Could 2026 be the year you do something extraordinary? After long and demanding days at work, finding time for yourself can feel impossible. But what if one goal could boost your wellbeing and raise money for a cause you care about?

We’re looking for supporters to join our charity team at two of the UK’s most iconic half marathons:

🏃 London Landmarks Half Marathon – run through the heart of London, passing some of the capital’s most famous sights.
🏃 Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon – a stunning route through historic palace grounds and beautiful parkland.

Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a beginner, or someone who has always wondered if they could complete a half marathon, we’d love you to join us! We have spaces in both these events, so which one you choose is up to you.

As part of our charity team you’ll receive:
• A guaranteed charity place
• Fundraising support every step of the way
• A charity running vest
• A charity running medal

Many fundraisers tell us that training gives them valuable time to focus on themselves, improve their fitness and de-stress outside of work. Crossing the finish line is just the bonus.

Places are limited, so if you’d like to find out more, visit: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/events/

One race. One goal. One incredible achievement you’ll remember forever!

26/05/2026

We are so excited to announce that we have secured charity places in the Brighton Marathon 2027 as part of the Brighton Marathon Weekend! 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

With a stunning backdrop of the sea in one of the country's most vibrant cities, the race gets bigger and better every year.

Spaces are limited and filling up fast, so if you’re interested in ticking off a bucket list marathon challenge, register now to avoid disappointment: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/events/brighton-marathon/

26/05/2026

👏 Well done to Team Rotary Ward at William Harvey Hospital! 👏

The fantastic team from Rotary Ward took on our charity challenge - the inflatable 5K obstacle course at Brands Hatch - and smashed it! 💥

Sarah Button, Saru Meyangbo, Chloe Chansa, Tina Rule and Ben Alldis tackled 30 fun (and challenging!) obstacles in the sunshine, raising an amazing £1,615 for East Kent Hospitals Charity 💙

Ben said: “East Kent Hospitals Charity is the NHS charity for our Trust and raises funds for our wards and services. We’d encourage all staff members to take part in sponsored challenges - they’re not only great fun, but brilliant for team building too!”

Feeling inspired? 🙌 There are loads of ways to get involved - from running marathons, skydiving, or even organising your own event!

👉 Find out more and join the fun: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/events/

08/05/2026

A Kent husband is raising money in memory of his wife, Sue, after hospital staff helped fulfil her final wish to die at home in Deal.

Sue, 68, became the first ventilated patient the critical care team at QEQM Hospital in Margate supported to transfer home for end-of-life care. Staff also arranged a special bedside bowling awards celebration for her.

Her husband Steve is now hosting a charity bowlathon on 20 June to support East Kent Hospital Charities 3 Wishes Project, which helps create meaningful final moments for patients and families in their last moments.

Read the full story here: https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/news/steve-crossland-bowlathon/