THE FATHER of an NHS staff nurse is taking on a cross county race against the clock after hearing about the facilities at Barnsley Hospital.
Darton man Shaun Clapham, 57, will be taking part in the Liverpool to Leeds canal race on August 26 – which stretches 130 miles over 31 consecutive hours.
He said: “The funds I am raising are going towards Barnsley Hospital to improve their end of life facilities.
“After hearing about my daughter’s work as a staff nurse in this department, the dedication and hard work from herself and her colleagues cannot go unnoticed.
“We will all have to part with a loved one in our lives, and despite the best efforts from her team, family and friends should be able to say their final goodbyes in a place of comfort and peace.”
Described as someone who ‘isn’t friends with technology’, Shaun trusted his daughter Amy Clapham to build the funding page which has currently raised £135.
She said: “I think it’s absolutely mental. I’m fit, I do kickboxing as a hobby and run in my free time – I ended up doing six miles last week while he did 60.”
Yet, she notes that the work is vitally important for the hospital, where the end of life facilities are in dire need of a refurbishment.
“At the minute all we’ve got is a beige room.
“It’s got the most boring colour on the wall and horrible plastic chairs for the family to sit on – it’s not comfortable at all.”