Staff nurse running for her patients

Best of luck to Grace running in this year's ABP Half Marathon, please read her story below:

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I work as a staff nurse on the G4 ward at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

I moved to Southampton just over a year ago from a hospital in London, and I’ve been made to feel at home on the G4 ward by the staff.

I’m now in my fourth year of nursing, and the team here in Southampton have been so supportive. Every day is different, and I continue to learn so much!

We are an 18-bedward, specialising in children coming in for general surgery, and those with kidney or urinary conditions.

The latter means that we see the patients and their parents frequently for treatment and get to know them really well.

I wanted to do something to give back to the ward and help my current patients, which is why I am excited sign up for the ABP Southampton half marathon.

I started running on and off throughout the pandemic when I was living in London to just get out of the house. After I moved down South for work, I watched one of my friends run a 10k and I knew that wanted to get back into running.

I’ve slowly built up my distance over the last year from a 5k to a 10k which is a huge achievement for me.

I really enjoy running. It's the perfect way to de-stress and to fit around our busy shifts because you can do it anytime.

I’m still working towards running a half marathon, but I am sure that in a few months, I will be able to smash it!”

Support Grace’s half marathon today: https://southamptonhospitalscharity.enthuse.com/pf/grace-beardshaw

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