Wigan woman's marathon effort to thank hospital staff caring for her mum

Gillian Wood, 61, found out she had the virus last month and was rushed from her home in Orrell to the A&E unit on December 17 when her condition deteriorated.

She was admitted to the intensive care unit and needed a ventilator to help her breathe, with her husband John and their children not allowed to visit due to the pandemic.

Now, with Gillian still in intensive care, her daughter Kay Assheton has pledged to do something to thank the “brilliant” staff who have been caring for her.

She will walk 26.2 miles - the distance of a marathon - and hopes to raise £1,000 for the unit.

Kay, who lives in Pemberton, said: “Because we have not been able to do anything - other than visit for 30 minutes on Christmas Day - I am having to ring up all the time to speak to the nurses. They have been brilliant. They say we can ring any time we want.

“They have been so good. They have been really understanding that it’s hard for us not being able to be there. In normal circumstances, someone would be there all the time. We would be involved in the journey, but because of the restrictions we can’t.

“I wanted to do something to thank these amazing people.”

The current national lockdown ruled out many popular fund-raising ideas, but 34-year-old Kay has decided to raise money by walking a marathon.

She has planned a route inside the borough, which goes past Wigan Infirmary and complies with the current restrictions.

The mum-of-two has not yet set a date for the walk, but hopes to do it in early February.

Kay said: “I thought it would be good to walk a marathon. It will take a good few hours, but I will do it. My husband is into running and walking, but I’m not.

“I have done Race For Life a few times, but nothing at this level.

“It’s going to be hard, but you don’t do these things because they are easy, you do them because they’re hard. It’s only a small thing compared to what the doctors and nurses are doing.

“I’m apprehensive but the money is going to a good cause.”

Kay set a fund-raising target of £1,000 and donations have already passed £700. The money will go to the intensive care unit, with staff to decide how it should be spent.

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/kays-walk-for-wigan-intensive-care-unit

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