Dalek runner cheered by staff at Worthing Hospital

When a Dalek ran into the grounds of Worthing Hospital this morning, it was greeted with cheers and a huge round of applause.
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Inside the costume was Andrew Harvey, head of information governance, on the final run of his Couch to 5k challenge for Love Your Hospital.

The 45-year-old father-of-two was greeted by David Clayton-Evans, head of the charity, a number of staff and his wife Lisa with their twins Harriett and Matthew.

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Andrew said: “I am raising money for Love Your Hospital charity because the NHS needs support owing to Covid-19.

Andrew Harvey, head of information governance, completes his Couch to 5k challenge for Love Your Hospital. Picture: Steve Robards SR2006221Andrew Harvey, head of information governance, completes his Couch to 5k challenge for Love Your Hospital. Picture: Steve Robards SR2006221
Andrew Harvey, head of information governance, completes his Couch to 5k challenge for Love Your Hospital. Picture: Steve Robards SR2006221

“The world is a changed place as a result of the coronavirus threat. The NHS is under pressure and we are all in lockdown and social distancing.

“Given that Boris said we are allowed out for one form of exercise a day, I decided, as someone with a bit of a paunch who has rarely done anything more exerting than pick up a beer, to respond to a challenge to get from the couch to 5k in nine weeks.

“It seemed sensible, then, to do something more than just help myself but somehow help others. How better than to raise a little bit, however large or small, for Love Your Hospital, the charity of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as my local hospital Trust and, incidentally, my place of work.”

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Andrew was set off on his run by Fr Mark Lyon at St Andrew’s Church in Tarring and he completed the 5k distance in 38 minutes.

He said it was hot in the costume but he had made it in a similar time to his practise run without it, so he was pleased.

Andrew started training in April, following the Couch to 5k running plan provided by the NHS, after a colleague joked with him that he needed to lose weight.

Andrew said: “I hadn’t done running before but once I had got used to doing it, I came off the programme and did my own thing.”

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To date, he has raised £1,350, having set a target of £500, and the money will go to the charity’s Hospital Heroes COVID-19 Appeal.

David explained the appeal was set up in response to calls from the community, asking how they could help the hospital staff during the pandemic.

He said: “It is about supporting the teams. We have, for example, provided comfort packs for staff who are having to stay away from home and provided psychological help. We will continue by looking after their wellbeing in these coming months.

“We have been tremendously lucky that our hospital has had so much support. The community has really engaged with us and accepted the changes we have had to make.

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“The support we have had has been tremendous and it has really, really helped our staff as we work through this difficult time.”

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