Words by Smiley Team
NHS workers have raised more than £5,000 to help support anti-knife crime and end-of-life care initiatives.
The staff, who work at Liverpool University Hospital Foundations Trust, were sponsored to take part in the Spartan Survival Experience in Cheshire.
The two-day event had the participants in full survival mode, where they had to construct their own shelter and camp out in the wild, fending for themselves. The course covered learning to make a fire, outdoor cooking, building your own shelter, and other group activities.
“We had a fantastic weekend and we are over the moon with the sponsorship we raised,” said Fiona Murphy, Director of Nursing at Liverpool University NHS Foundation.
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The £5,000 raised through the weekend will be split between the SWAN Model of End of Life and Bereavement Care, and KnifeSavers.
The SWAN Model is a way of supporting patients and their families through end of life care, and assisting families through the grieving process after the patients have passed on. Its aim is to promote dignity, respect and compassion at the end of a patient’s life, in any and all circumstances. Now in its 10th year, it has since been rolled out at over 50 care organisations across the country, helping to bring unique, individualised support and guidance to patients and loved ones.
The other beneficiary, KnifeSavers, is a not-for-profit organisation based in Liverpool. The goal of KnifeSavers is to educate and inform the general public about how to help with knife wounds while waiting for the medical professionals to arrive.
They have created specialist ‘Bleeding Control Kits’, have a national education programme and an app that provides step by step instructions to help in an emergency situation.
“I want to say a huge well done to everyone who took part,” said Ian Huntington, the co-founder of Spartan Survival and its Chief Instructor. “Both of these organisations are making huge differences in so many lives and we hope the £5,000 raised can truly help them to continue their important work.”
DONATE: You can give to KnifeSavers to help fund the information that helps to save lives.
VOLUNTEER: You can sign up to be a SWAN Volunteer, and help families through their berevement.
