Published August 4th, 2022
A local man from Saltash took on a 12 hour overnight challenge of endurance to raise funds for St Luke’s Hospice.
Del Phillips, logistics director at Appleby Westward, completed the challenge on the 30 July from 6pm to 6am, in which he ran or walked a 1.3 mile loop, followed by 10 pull-ups and 20 press ups after each lap.
St Luke’s in Plymouth assisted Del’s mother in her final weeks, and provided exceptional care throughout her time in the hospice. The charity relies on raising £7.8 million a year from fundraisers to continue running the service it offers.
Del said: “I came up with the idea because I really wanted to challenge myself, not just physically but mentally, and if people are kind enough to sponsor me, I had to make it difficult.
“Losing my mum was exceptionally hard, but St Luke’s cared for her with so much dedication and compassion. They were also a great support to our family, particularly when myself and my sister took it in turns to sleep there. I wanted to acknowledge what they have done for us, and this felt like the best way to show my gratitude.
“I train on a regular basis and started to increase the specific training required for this challenge, as I was determined to do my very best. It wasn’t easy by any means, but I had plenty of support at various points throughout the challenge, and family members cheered me on, which was enough to keep me going.”
Appleby Westward, SPAR’s wholesaler in the west country, supported him by announcing his news on its internal channels, including sharing the challenge to suppliers and various stakeholders. Employees and the company have been donating to the cause, and the team made a banner for the day of the challenge.
Del has raised over £2,500 so far. To donate, please visit Del’s Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/del-phillips.
