Birmingham Half Marathon: Redditch postman runs for Cavell

Dad-of-three Alan Whiting, aged 54, from Headless Cross, is preparing to take on the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, May 5 to raise vital funds for Cavell. 

The postie is no stranger to the 13.1-mile run and has raised several hundred pounds over previous years for Diabetes UK and the John Bonham Memorial Fund in 2015. 

Mr Whiting said: "I wanted to raise money in support of our great nurses here in the UK. Cavell is based in Redditch and works across the country helping nurses and midwives, working and retired, through tough times. 

"It is the chosen charity of Vintage Trax where my wife Teresa and sister-in-law, Ros Sidaway, both work so Cavell was an obvious choice to help. 

"Many of our hardworking nurses and midwives are going through especially difficult times emotionally and physically post-Covid as well as financially during the cost-of-living crisis. 

"As a charity, independent of hospital trusts own charities, Cavell's work is vital to nurses needing help and perhaps not wanting to seek support directly from their employers for privacy reasons."

The postman is raising money for Cavell (Image: Vintage Trax)

The half marathon attracts competitors from across the UK and around the world and this year expects around 20,000 people to tackle the new route. 

Cavell employee, Savannah, said: "As a small but mighty charity, we really benefit from the support of fundraisers, and Vintage Trax, a local business to Cavell’s headquarters, has raised hundreds for our charity.

"It’s wonderful to see that the owners’ passion for Cavell’s cause has extended to Alan who will take on his own fundraising challenge in May.

"Cavell is receiving more and more applications for support, so every donation counts to make a difference for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants going through tough times."

To sponsor Mr Whiting visit https://cavell.enthuse.com/pf/alan-whiting