Legendary Stars Appeal fundraiser heads for £500k target
The 88 year old plans sponsored walk around the village of Sixpenny Handley on Sunday (25 July)
Everyone is wishing Michael Beck & his team the best of luck for Sunday (25 July 2021) as they walk 5k around the village of Sixpenny Handley.
It's Michael's dream to reach an incredible £500,000 total fundraising target for the Salisbury District Hospital's Stars Appeal charity. This sponsored walk is another step that'll help him on his way.
Everyone in the area on Sunday is encouraged to give him a wave or a toot!
Michael is an incredible man, and a long-time Stars Appeal fundraiser. The 88 year old teamed up with his respiratory consultant Dr Anna Barton in a bid to fulfil his dream of raising half a million pounds for the Salisbury Hospital charity.
STARS APPEAL'S FANTASTIC FUNDRAISER
Dr Barton's relationship with Michael is special. She has treated him for both Covid-19 and now lung cancer, Dr Barton set-up an online fundraising page and is helping him to achieve his £500k target. Michael needs to raise about £75,000 more to hit the half-million mark.
Dr Anna Barton said:
“Many of you will know Michael Beck from his incredible fundraising efforts for our hospital charity, the Stars Appeal. I met this wonderful man when he was fighting Coronavirus last year. He spent two weeks with us on the Covid Ward. We very nearly lost him."
"After leaving the hospital, he was very breathless and tired, but desperate to get back to his fundraising activities so was really motivated to start walking again. Indeed, within less than 3 months of discharge, he was out walking 10km on the Walk for Wards. I and his whole medical team were incredibly impressed with his determination."
"However, his breathing difficulties continued, and sadly a repeat chest x-ray showed that a shadow on the lung, we hoped had been caused by Covid, had not gone away. A CT scan confirmed that Michael sadly had incurable lung cancer. As such I’m continually involved in his ongoing treatment. Getting to know Michael I have learnt many amazing things about him. A Korean war veteran and lifelong dairy farmer, at 88 years old this isn’t Michael’s first brush with cancer. He has successfully seen off many others, breast, bladder, skin and prostate in fact. And he lost his beloved wife Ruby to ovarian cancer."
All of this has had a huge impact on Michael and prompted him to become a tireless fundraiser for the Stars Appeal hospital charity. With help from friends and supporters, in the past 17 years Michael has raised £425,000.
He's a familiar sight at the hospital, spending hours collecting with a bucket in the main entrance , accompanied by his trusty wheelbarrow ‘Wally’.
Anna added by saying:
"I find this both incredible and awe-inspiring. And I have seen the benefits of the charity in my work. In fact the Stars Appeal has recently bought some state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for our department costing £170,000. Every day I see first-hand how this equipment is helping patients like Michael to be treated locally instead of travelling elsewhere."
"It is Michael’s dearest, and perhaps last, wish that he reaches his target of raising £500,000 for the Stars Appeal. However, due to his illness and Covid restrictions, he can no longer collect money in his normal way. That’s why, with Michael’s full support, I have set up this page to support him."
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/drbarton
"Please donate and help this incredible man I have had the pleasure of looking after, to hit his half-million pound target – thank you.”