Words by Smiley Team
It’s sometimes the small acts of individual goodwill that make a lot of difference in the world. Determined to drive positive change in this way, Lucy Young, a 57-year-old woman from Yorkshire decided on her last birthday to embark on a year-long fitness fundraising mission for Leeds Hospitals Charity.
She was inspired to fundraise for the healthcare charity after seeing first-hand the support her family friend’s daughter Kayleigh received in ward 52 of Leeds Children’s Hospital when she was just 13 years old.
Rushed into hospital with meningitis, Kayleigh was told by doctors that she had an abscess on her brain. But thanks to the dedication of the ward staff, she made a brilliant recovery and could return home to her family after five weeks. Now aged 29, the young woman works as a sister in the same ward where she received care 16 years ago.
Young said: “I’ve always wanted to give something back to the ward that saved Kayleigh’s life and with everything that happened in 2020 I knew that the staff would need my support more than ever.”
Kayleigh added: “Lucy and her family were so supportive at a really scary time for me and my family, and we’re still so close now. My own experience in the hospital inspired me to work at my local hospital and I want to help other children and their families going through the same traumatic time my family did. I joined in with the challenge to mark the halfway point and just one day was hard enough for me – what she’s doing is incredible!”
Although Young, a doting mother and grandmother, already led a very healthy lifestyle, it’s no easy feat incorporating 57 burpees, deadlifts, squats, push-ups and more into her day.
She said: “I’ve never fundraised before, and at first, I was scared I’d taken on too much, although this challenge is a physically tough one. But it’s nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that Kayleigh and her family went through.”
Nearly nine months have passed now since Young took on the challenge. She has raised over £1,300, and she has 90 days left to reach her goal of £1,400.
You can support Lucy by donating to her fundraising page.
Leeds Hospitals Charity fundraises for eight areas at Leeds Teaching Hospitals ranging from dental care to cancer treatment. They support dedicated staff to offer people with a range of health conditions the best possible services, providing £5 million in additional funding for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust each year.
By donating to the charity you can help ensure patients receive the highest standards of care, with money going to life-saving equipment, research fellowships and improvements to the wards.
