Sudbury father and daughter duo give boost to My Wish charity following success at annual Fun Run
Father and daughter pairing Andrew and Vicky Paxton marched through the pain barrier in a bid to support a hospital charity.
The pair, of Jubilee Road, Sudbury, raised a total of £529.10 after walking five miles in the town’s annual fun run.
It took them one hour, 45 minutes and two seconds to complete the course, but their efforts were not in vain, with the money going towards the My Wish Charity’s Butterfly Appeal, which has been set up to help enhance the care for patients at West Suffolk Hospital at the end of their lives, both in the hospital and out in the community.
Vicky, 23, who works as a machine operator at Siemens in the town, and her father, a 57-year-old refuse collector, are now making plans to run the course next year.
She said: “It nearly killed us both but we managed to complete the course.
“We started doing 15 to 20 minutes each on the treadmill but ended up just taking on the walk. Next year, we hope to run the course, but we will have to train a bit more for it.”
Vicky helps her aunt and uncle, Anthony and Tracy Tatum, with charity bingo sessions in Great Cornard, with money from it going towards My Wish.
The sessions, held once a month at the Stevenson Centre, are attended by up to 45 people, and have raised £7,750 in the three years they have been running.
It has turned into a real close-knit family tradition and, for Vicky and her father, they immediately knew what charity they wanted to raise the money for.
The hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, treats a huge proportion of palliative and end-of-life patients in the area and the My Wish Charity works closely with staff to find out what is needed and where it can help.
Sally Daniels, the My Wish appeal manager, said: “By supporting the Butterfly Appeal, Vicky and Andy have helped to make those last moments a little easier for both the patients and their loved ones.
“We can’t thank them and all their family members for their continued support.”
