Stonewood Team took on the City

March 3rd 2015

If you live in, drove through or came anywhere close to Bath over the weekend, you would know that last Sunday was the annual Bath Half Marathon.  And sure, it’s one of the UK’s longest established and most popular city centre road events because of its ideal terrain and beautiful setting, but that isn’t why the Stonewood team took on the challenge.

Their motivation is the memory of two dear colleagues, Kevin Whittaker and Tony Ridewood, who both sadly lost their battles with cancer; Kevin in 2010 and Tony in 2014. Team Stonewood ran in support of two local charities; Dorothy House Hospice Care and The Forever Friends Appeal RUH.

The team included Joe Bergson, Tom Carter, Ben Lang, Sam Smart and Matt Vaudin. Their commitment to the challenge is their expression of appreciation for the support their friends received from Dorothy House and the RUH.

Kevin Whittaker was a patient of Dorothy House; he and his family were supported by our free specialist nursing care at home, as provided for patients across our 700-square-mile area including Bath and north east Somerset and parts of Wiltshire and Somerset. Every day, Dorothy House Hospice Care supports around 800 families affected by cancer, motor neurone disease and other life threatening conditions. The vast majority of the hospice’s expenditure – 92 per cent – goes on patient care. The hospice depends on the generosity of local people to make donations, hold events, take part in sponsored challenges- such as the Bath Half Marathon.

Tony Ridewood, father of three, was married to his wife Ruth for just a year when he was diagnosed with cancer. Ruth set up his Tribute Fund for the Forever Friends Appeal Cancer Campaign which seeks to raise £8.5 million towards the build of a new cancer centre at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. The new centre will take a holistic approach that is designed to produce a highly beneficial healing environment for patients and their families. It will transform RUH cancer services and provide the very best care for all our cancer patients and their families. The Appeal has currently raised £6.2 million for the new Cancer Centre.

On behalf of the Forever Friends Appeal and Dorothy House, we express our deepest gratitude to the Stonewood team for running the Bath Half Marathon in support of our two charities.