Posted on 28 June 2021
This year’s highly anticipated open water swim fundraiser held by The League of Friends to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is gaining momentum and applications have been flooding in.
The hospital Friends are delighted to reveal that Dr Ruth Longfellow, Chief Medical Officer at the Oswestry based hospital, is amongst the list of participants for this year’s Mere Mile event.
The Mere Mile is taking place on August 30 – a Bank Holiday Monday – at the Mere, Ellesmere, and will see swimmers taking on a mile or 2.5 mile swim for the benefit of RJAH.
Ruth, who has signed up to undertake the 2.5 mile challenge, said: “I have chosen to take part as I want to support our League of Friends, who have been so supportive of RJAH staff over the last 18 months during the pandemic – I’m also aware it been a difficult time for charities, with limited opportunities for fundraising.
“I am a keen open water swimmer and swim regularly at Alderford Lake. They now have a late night opening every Wednesday, so I enjoy swimming after work, especially if it’s been a busy, stressful day.”
Ruth has also undertaken open water swim sessions with Swimfinity, who are working in conjunction with the League of Friends to host the Mere Mile.
She added: “I had a great open water technique session with Swimfinity in Ellesmere, improving my stroke and sighting, to make sure I swim in a straight line when in the mere, which is much more difficult than in a pool with lanes and lines on the bottom!
“I’m really looking forward to training over the summer, ready for the Mere Mile at the end of August.”
Those who wish to sponsor Ruth can do so by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ruth-Longfellow
Victoria Sugden, Charity Director for the hospital Friends, said: “We are so grateful to Ruth Longfellow, RJAH’s Chief Medical Officer, for undertaking the 2.5 mile challenge and helping to fundraise.
“There is a number of RJAH staff supporting the event, so definitely some friendly competition going on – a huge thanks to everyone taking part!”
Places are limited and members of the local community are encouraged to register sooner rather than later.
To secure a place to undertake the mile or 2.5 mile swim please contact:
- Email – rjah.communityfundraising@nhs.net
- Tel – 01691 404401
Photo caption: Dr Ruth Longfellow, Chief Medical Officer at RJAH.
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