An incredible donation of £20,000 has been made to Bay Hospitals Charity by the organisers of the annual Keswick to Barrow Walk. 

Bay Hospitals Charity Head of Charities & Fundraising Suzanne Lofthouse attended the annual Keswick to Barrow Walk presentation evening recently, where the donation was announced as part of a total of more than £300,000 shared to good causes around the region. 

Suzanne said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this generous donation from the Keswick to Barrow Walk. 

“This is the best Christmas present we could have wished for, and the funds will be used for the benefit of our patients, and provide improved equipment for use by the incredible staff in our hospitals and the community. 

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Keswick to Barrow organisers and all of our amazing supporters who took part in this year’s event.” 

Bay Hospitals Charity funds the latest equipment for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to help make patients more comfortable and ensure they get the best possible care and treatment. 

This year 24 teams of walkers and runners supported Bay Hospitals Charity by taking on the 39-mile route from Keswick or the shorter 21-mile route from Coniston, raising thousands of pounds in sponsorship. 

The additional £20,000 donation has come from the profits generated by the organisers of the event, which attracted nearly 1,900 participants this year.    

Event committee member Roy Barnes said: “Over the years hundreds of the charity’s supporters have participated in our walks, and this year’s donation is recognition of the hard work of the Bay Hospitals Charity team and their supporters.  

“The fact that the charity team at Bay Hospitals has been able to put so many ‘boots on the ground’ at our event means we’ve been able to donate a £20,000 back into supporting the vital work the charity does in the community hospitals around Morecambe Bay.” 

The next edition of the Keswick to Barrow Walk takes place on 13 May 2023. Find out more at keswick2barrow.co.uk. To register your interest in taking part on behalf of Bay Hospitals Charity, get in touch on 01524 516064 or email [email protected] 

Head of Charities & Fundraising Suzanne Lofthouse is pictured accepting the donation from Keswick to Barrow Walk chair Craig Bland. Photo courtesy of the Keswick to Barrow Walk.