A MARIE Curie counsellor pedaled more than 1,000 miles to mark the 10th anniversary of the Marsh Lane site opening.
Saiqa Phillips first hopped on her Peloton bike during Children’s Grief Awareness week in November and has been cycling 100 miles every week to raise funds for the hospice.
She completed the final stretch of her challenge at the hospice where doctors, nurses, fellow counsellors and members of the fundraising and volunteering teams joined her as she made her way across the virtual finishing line.
Saiqa said: “The challenge has been an incredible achievement, not just personally but on a community spirit level.
“The sense of accomplishment has been down to the warm words of encouragement and support.
“Waking up on very cold winter mornings or coming home from a long day at work and getting on the bike has been a mental and physical challenge – but the support and donations have reminded us all why were doing this.
“I started this challenge with friends and family and collectively we have cycled every single week in 10 weeks reaching now over the target of 1200 miles.”
The total distance of the 10-week challenge adds up to a full round-trip of Marie Curie’s nine Hospices and head office across the UK.
The Olton resident was inspired to do this after seeing the resilience people she has met during her time at Marie Curie have shown.
She added: “We meet many different people from different backgrounds who are navigating through such a difficult time, particularly those who may not have the opportunity to use their bodies in the way they hope– yet their resilience is something to be admired and a reminder that the privilege in moving our/my body is an invaluable thing.
“So this is for them, for each and every person we have the honour of supporting and caring for. In the words of a Peloton instructor ‘I don’t have to. I get to.’ And with that, I aimed to channel their resilience and create my own.”
So far Saiqa has raised more than £1,700 and this will be handed to the Marsh Lane hospice to help pay for the work they do for patients and their families.
The Marsh Lane hospice has been providing end-of life-care for patients with terminal illness in its purpose-built building since 2013, relocating from the old Warren Pearl site on Warwick Road.
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