A fitness fundraising initiative unveiled at the beginning of 2021 by Forest Holme Hospice in Poole is returning having raised nearly £20,000 already for the charity. 

Get Fit For Forest Holme was originally launched in January last year by former Olympic and Commonwealth long-distance runner Liz Yelling, with the aim of improving people’s physical and mental health, especially during lockdown, whilst raising money to enhance the care and support services provided by the local NHS hospice. 

The main emphasis of the challenge is that participants can set their own challenge and fundraising target, according to ability and fitness levels, at a time that suits. It could be anything from running a marathon or walking the dog to swimming lengths or cycling to work. Everyone who takes part will receive a very special Get Fit For Forest Holme medal and if anyone raises over £500, they will also get a special Forest Holme hoodie. 

Forest Holme is part of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and is supported by the charity, which needs to raise at least £900,000 each year to help enhance the NHS provision at the hospice to deliver end of life care and support to more than 1,000 people each year with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. However, like many charities, the hospice has been impacted financially by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paul Tucker, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Forest Holme, said, “We’ve been totally overwhelmed with both the popularity and amount raised from the Get Fit challenge, which is why we are launching it again this year. 

We know a lot of people have struggled mentally and physically since the start of the pandemic, so the idea is simply to encourage our local community to get active and help improve everyone’s physical and mental health, while also helping the charity during a particularly challenging time.”

Entry to Get Fit For Forest Holme is free and for more information or to register visit www.forestholmehospice.org.uk/events/fitforforest/ You can also get in touch by emailing charlie.james@forestholmehospice.org.uk