A pack of intrepid staff from Birmingham Women’s Hospital has raised over £3,000 for the hospital charity’s latest fundraising campaign, its Woodland House Appeal, by taking on a muddy, obstacle filled Wolf Run.

The self-proclaimed ‘BWH Wolf Pack’ of 20 hospital staff were led by Sharon Sarkar and Louisa Davison, the hospital’s Outpatient Matron and Consultant Midwife. The two frontline colleagues had decided to sign up as a way to mark a year of lockdowns and unprecedented challenges, but they soon managed to drum up interest from other colleagues, including a number of clinical and senior midwives, a consultant obstetrician, general managers, plus their partners and friends.

Between them, the team decided if they were going to take on the tough 10k, they’d better do it for a good cause, and chose to raise funds for their much-loved hospital’s latest fundraising efforts. With just £1million left to raise, Woodland House will be a new, standalone bereavement centre at the Women’s Hospital, supporting thousands of grieving mums and dads who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death.

Although none of them liked the idea of getting muddy or even running, through their work at the hospital, many of the ‘Wolf Pack’ have seen first-hand the devastation pregnancy and baby loss can have on families, so , they wanted to do what they could to help Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity reach its final target.

On the day, the team geared up to take on the challenge, sporting their iconic charity branded, purple-heart running vests, and gave it their all for the much-needed appeal.

Sharon said: “We see first-hand just how much Woodland House is needed, and just how much of a difference it will make to our families who have lost a baby; it just felt right for us to do our bit to help make it a reality.

“Our team was made up of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels, but it wasn’t a competition for us – just colleagues and friends supporting each other, having fun and overcoming personal challenges to raise money for a cause that means so much to us. It really was tough but we enjoyed it so much, we’ve even signed up for the next one so hope to push the donations target higher and encourage more colleagues to join our ‘pack’!”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity, said: “Our hospital cares for over 2,000 grieving mums and dads every year who have lost a baby. We know we can never take away the pain of such a loss, but by bringing Woodland House to our hospital, one of only two dedicated women’s hospitals in the UK, we can create a sensitive space, just for them, where they can take the time they need until they feel ready to face the world again.

“Our wonderful colleagues go above and beyond every day to provide the best care possible for our patients but the ‘BWH Wolf Pack’ has gone one step further and the money raised  takes us even closer to our final £1million target to make Woodland House a reality.”