Chris Foden at the ICU in Barrow
A keen runner from Barrow is set to do a gruelling 100km challenge to raise funds for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Furness General Hospital (FGH).
Chris Foden, 45, who is a Team Leader in the Estates Department at FGH, is in training to do the Lakeland Trails Ultra 100K challenge on Sunday, June 29.
Chris, a dad of two girls, said he is raising funds through Bay Hospitals Charity because his mum received excellent care from the ICU team when she had an operation. He said he also witnesses the wonderful care provided by the ICU team on a regular basis.
Starting and finishing in Ambleside, the 100K Lakeland Trails Ultra Challenge takes in a complete circuit of the central Lake District.
Chris has set himself the challenge of raising £300 through his Just Giving page towards a garden that the ICU team wants to create for patients, families, visitors and staff.
The tough and challenging course includes five mountain passes and a 10,500ft ascent and descent.
Chris, a former pupil of St Bernard’s Senior School in Barrow, has worked for the Trust for 19 years, firstly as a joiner and then as a Team Leader. Before that he worked as a joiner for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited (VSEL) in
Barrow. He’s a well known and popular face around FGH and Barrow.
When he was at school Chris represented Barrow in the Cumbria Trials races and he recently started running again.
He said: “I decided to do the Lakeland Trails Ultra 100K for Bay Hospitals Charity because I’m aware of the great work they do and that they want to set up a little garden for patients and families.
“My mother was on ICU after an operation and they looked after her amazingly well.”
Chris said he did the Great North Run half marathon in 2010 and was bitten by the bug.
He explained: “I did several other events and my first full marathon was the Edinburgh Marathon in 2012.
“I’ve done 17 marathons in total. More recently I’ve moved up from marathon running to ultra-length runs. The Lakeland Trails Ultra will be my first 100K race.
“I decided to try it because I did the Keswick to Barrow (K2B) run this year and in 2018 for the Bay Hospitals Charity. I’d also done the Tri Island Running Barrow in Furness 50 mile run.
“When you’re running 50K or 100K it’s a psychological thing. You get to 26 miles and your brain thinks, that’s it – I’ve done my marathon now. You have to keep pushing on and fighting to finish. Nausea and staying hydrated can also be very challenging.
“I’ve been building up slowly to the 100K. I’m always competing against myself to get better.”
One of Chris’ colleagues, Shaun Nelson, a plumber at FGH, has been helping him with his training and is going to the event to give him encouragement.
Chris is running for the Bay Hospitals Charity
Chris’ daughter, Mia, 16, and Ruby, 10, are proud of their dad’s fundraising and Ruby has recently taken up running. Ruby has already done a few 5K runs and a 10K.
Chris will have updates on his personal Facebook account leading up the 100K challenge. Search for Chris Foden on Facebook to see more.
He said: “I have confidence in my training and I know I can do the elevation because I’ve done it before at Whinlatter Forest.
“I’m feeling good about it. The cut-off point is 23 hours and I’m hoping to do it in
around 17 hours. I’m looking forward to it and I hope lots of people will sponsor me to raise funds for the ICU garden.”
Bay Hospitals Charity is a registered charity which raises money to help improve patient care and the hospital experience at UHMBT.
Every day incredible things happen across the Trust’s hospitals but this is not without cost. By donating to Bay Hospitals Charity the public can help fund the latest equipment and help make local hospitals more comfortable, ensuring everyone gets the best possible care and treatment.
Heidi Bowron, Charity Coordinator at FGH, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Chris is doing the Lakeland Trails Ultra 100K to raise money for the ICU garden.
“He has set himself an incredibly tough challenge and we will be rooting for him all the way.
“It would be wonderful if lots of people could support the ICU department by sponsoring him.”
To sponsor Chris please go to his JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-foden2
For more information on Bay Hospitals Charity or to make a donation, visit: www.bayhospitalscharity.org/donate