An assistant practice manager based in a practice in Doncaster, South Yorkshire has raised £4,120 for charity after completing the Virgin Money London Marathon yesterday.
Vickie Hassall, who works at Kingthorne Group Practice, ran over five hours to reach the finish line on April 22.
Team KT
Ms Hassall said that she received great support from both patients and staff members.
She said: ‘The whole practice was behind me. We are like a family at Kingthorne and call ourselves Team KT.
‘My colleagues Kate Green and Rebecca Phillips both came to watch and support me and patients would meet me in the waiting room to give me their donations.’
Ms Hassall started training for the marathon last November, when she would run three to four times a week early morning or after work.
Several reasons encouraged her to raise money for the British Lung Foundation.
‘My dad ran the marathon three times before he passed away in 2009.
‘I chose the British Lung Foundation also because my mother and father in law passed away from lung disease in the last few years and of course to support those patients with COPD and lung disease.’
A better assistant practice manager
Ms Hassall, who has been working at the practice for the past 26 years, believes that this experience helped her become a better assistant practice manager.
She said: ‘It was difficult to train for the marathon while continuing my job as a full-time assistant practice manager.
‘However, I would do it again.
‘You become a lot fitter as a person, but mentally your fitness improves as well, as sport reduces anxiety and stress level. Going for a run after a long day at work really helps me.’
More than 40,000 people took part in the London Marathon, including distance runner Sir Mo Farah and Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth.
Here is a link to Vickie Hassall’s Virgin Money giving page.
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