BLOG - UNBOUNCE - EXAMPLE PAGE - ANNUAL REPORT - KCH - Flipbook - Page 24
How did we do?
Launching the Great Hospital Hike
On Saturday 18th September 2021, in the glorious
sunshine, 426 people took part in our inaugural
Great Hospital Hike – from King’s College Hospital
in Denmark Hill to the Princess Royal University
Hospital in Bromley. Clinicians, patients, friends
and members of the local community trekked
alongside each other, relishing the sense of
community and camaraderie. Our amazing
participants told us that the event was one they
would never forget. Walking in a sea of yellow
t-shirts, united in a common purpose, they raised
an incredible £162,000 for our hospitals.
Angela’s story
In 2019, Angela was rushed to King's College Hospital
having fallen critically ill with autoimmune liver
failure. Thankfully, a donor was found and she received
a life-saving liver transplant. To show her gratitude,
Angela laced up her walking boots and took on the
Great Hospital Hike, raising an astonishing £13,000.
The Great Hospital Hike seemed tailor made for me and
it was fantastic! The weather was perfect and there
was such a great buzz at the start. We took it slowly and
made great use of the stops where there were toilets
and lots of food and drink available. There was a real
party atmosphere, with music and laughter.
“While on the route, one of the marshals saw my
walking bib (it said I was walking for the liver unit) and
he told me that he was a transplant surgeon at the liver
unit! He took a photo of us and said he would show it to
my surgeon and my consultant. Life after a transplant!
“Finishing the walk – not in record time! – was a truly
fantastic moment and a real milestone in my recovery.
We have already signed up to walk the Great Hospital
Hike in September 2022. This time, we’re being
joined by our three children and another friend
who loves hiking. I can’t wait to do it again!
24
S U P P O R T K I N G S .O R G .U K
Julie and Justine’s story
Julie and Justine met on Kinea Wilson
ward in 2018 while they both recovered from
a brain haemorrhage. The Great Hospital Hike was
the perfect way to celebrate their friendship and
recovery – and give something back to King’s.
Julie had been admitted to the ward after falling
ill on holiday and Justine had been transferred there
after undergoing life-saving surgery. “By the time I met
Julie I was much better,” says Justine. “I still couldn’t
use my right side at all and she used to help me do
things like butter my toast.”
“That’s how our friendship started,” says Julie.
They both found that walking helped with their
rehabilitation, so when Justine heard about the event,
she and Julie had no hesitation in signing up. “The
route took us through some beautiful green spaces,
and the hike was a perfect way for me and my
family to give something back for the amazing care
and support that we received,” says Justine.
“King’s staff are my unsung heroes,” says Julie.
"The Great Hospital Hike gave us the opportunity to
say ‘thank you’ for everything.”
