Big-hearted Bedworth firm's boost for postie's marathon

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Big-hearted Bedworth firm's boost for postie's marathon challenge


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A BOOST has been given to a runner's first charity marathon by a Bedworth firm.

Postman Kevin Stanley from Nuneaton was inspired to join thousands of runners in the Great North Run to help raise funds for a charity close to his heart.

Mr Stanley, who is a postman at Royal Mail's Bedworth office, chose to run for 'Little Lives, Big Journeys' appeal as Jude Olner, the son of his close friends Michael and Vicki was given life-saving treatment quickly after his birth, due to a lack of oxygen in his brain.

Any baby who is born in these circumstances at the George Eliot Hospital will be transferred to a specialist centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and it is vital brain cooling starts as soon as possible to give those babies the best chance of surviving their brain injury, and with as little brain damage as possible.

The 'Little Lives Big Journeys' appeal aims to raise more than £60,000 to provide the service with two ambulances, which will be fitted with vital cooling equipment. The machines will be used to prevent brain damage when babies need to be transferred from hospitals, to specialist intensive care centres, one of which is at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Mr Stanley, who is 36, set himself the challenge of not only completing his first major run, but to also raise £500 for the appeal..

When Graham Hartlett, owner of Coventry Manufacturing Limited, which is based on Bayton Road Industrial Estate, heard about Mr Stanley's challenge, he did not hesitate to help.

Kind-hearted Mr Hartlett, who lives in Nuneaton, handed over £100 in sponsorship money.

"As a local businessman, I feel it's important to give something back to the local community," the grandfather said.

"I was particularly touched by The Little Lives Big Journeys appeal, and as Kev is a relative of two of my employees, it was the perfect fundraising campaign for me to support."

Buoyed by the extra donation, Mr Stanley took part in the famed run on Sunday and completed it in a respectable one hour and 51 minutes.

He has smashed his fund-raising target, with latest estimations at more than £700, but Mr Stanley is keen to raise even more for the appeal.

To donate to the appeal, log onto the Little Lives Big Journey Just Giving Page at http://www.justgiving.com/LittleLivesBigJourneys" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;