Gymshark founder Ben named as first Patron of hospitals charity fund - The Solihull Observer

Gymshark founder Ben named as first Patron of hospitals charity fund

Solihull Editorial 1st Jun, 2021   0

BEN Francis, founder of Solihull-based fitness apparel brand Gymshark – which first started in Redditch – has become Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity’s first-ever patron.

The patronage honours Ben’s passion for the NHS, his desire to help those in need as well as his enthusiasm to promote Birmingham to the world.

Over the last 12 months Bromsgrove born Ben has built a strong relationship with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, both personally and professionally, through the fitness community and apparel brand, Gymshark, which pledged to support the charity from the onset of the pandemic.

Last year, Gymshark donated a staggering £180,000 to the charity after thousands of people answered Ben’s brand’s rallying cry to get their ‘sweat on’ as part of its #NHSSweatySelfie challenge.




For every selfie uploaded, of which there were almost 36,000, Gymshark donated £5 to the charity.

Now, driven by his aspiration to give back, Ben, who is proud of his roots, will work with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity to achieve its mission to improve the lives of women, babies, children and families – regionally, nationally and internationally.


As Patron, Ben will help the charity to raise awareness and the much-needed funds to enable the hospital and its staff to continually be at the forefront of what is possible, in order to make a real difference to all who use the hospitals’ services.

The chairman of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and its Charity, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, former medical director of the NHS in England, said: “We are absolutely thrilled Ben has agreed to accept this prestigious role.

“Our charity is vital in supporting our hospitals’ surgeons, physicians and nurses to push boundaries and deliver world-leading research, treatment and care to our brave patients.”

Ben said: “I’ve long been in awe of the incredible work of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals.

“My mum has worked as a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham all of my life, so I know first-hand how unbelievably hardworking they are and the impact they have on so many people.

“When the guys at the charity approached me about becoming a patron, I accepted without hesitation. I look forward to working with them to continue to raise awareness and funds for this amazing charity.”

Birmingham Women’s Hospital is one of only two dedicated women’s hospitals in the UK and boasts the busiest single site maternity unit, birthing approximately 8,200 babies a year. It also cares for around 900 of the region’s poorliest babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit every year.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgs6I_WBtqI featuring Ben Francis and Sarah-Jane Marsh, CEO at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

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