MARATHON EFFORT FOR CHARITY
Runner will fit 26.2-mile jogs between Royal Stoke shifts
AN NHS worker is taking on a running challenge in aid of a mental health charity – after describing battling the coronavirus pandemic as ‘horrendous.’
Maxwell Chattaway, from Leek, is running the ‘marathon’ distance – 26.2 miles – each week throughout February.
Along with Jack Smith, from Alsager, and Robert Kewish, from Penkhull, the trio – who all work at the Royal Stoke University Hospital – are raising funds for Mind after seeing how the pandemic has affected people’s mental health.
Ahead of the run, Maxwell opened up about the challenges he and his own colleagues have faced in the past year.
The 29-year-old said: “It has been absolutely horrendous. Staff have been working long shifts and we are all shattered – wearing the masks all day is really tough.
“The job is hard enough anyway, but when you are working so closely with Covidpositive patients, every day is even harder.
“We’ve been dealing with sick patients, but then so many of our own have been struck down and been off poorly with Covid, so there has been added pressure there.
“All of my colleagues are brilliant and everyone has mucked in as much as they can.
“People have been working extra shifts and staying later, even after working so many hours in the first place.
“Absolutely everyone – including the doctors, nurse, porters and cleaners – is working so hard.”
The three friends met through their jobs at Royal Stoke. Maxwell is a progress chaser, Jack a senior staff nurse, and Robert a ward clerk.
Maxwell said the current situation is ‘the worst it has ever been.’
He explained: “Compared to last year, things are much worse now.
“During the first wave, I’d say that Royal Stoke had it a lot easier. It was still tough, but now is just completely different.
“Now it’s the worst it has ever been and it’s hard every day. People still need to be taking precautions so we can get to the other side as soon as possible.”
The trio are aiming to raise as much as they can for Mind, and have set up a Justgiving page.
Maxwell said: “We do see ourselves as the lucky ones. We have been fortunate enough to be able to still go to work, and we haven’t had to worry about furlough or losing our jobs. We have noticed the rise in the number of mental health cases over the last year and we have seen it first hand.”
Maxwell has lost three stone since taking up running in October after the gyms closed.
He added: “It’ll be tough because we’ll be running around our 50-hour work weeks, so I’m sure it will get tiring.
“But we’re feeling good and I’m personally really looking forward to getting started.
“Our target was to raise £500, but we have managed to raise over £900 already.”