Dad runs first half marathon for home from home

Rob Hilton’s son was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the same time that his wife, who was 60 miles away in Cheshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and now he has raised an incredible amount of money for QEHB Charity’s SACA home away from home.

When tragedy strikes, one of the most asked questions from friends and family is often ‘What can we do?’.

Rob found he could do something himself as well as provide the opportunity for others by running his first ever half marathon!

An amazing £3,304 was raised for the Queen Elizabeth Birmingham Hospital Charity by running the half marathon in Ilkley!

Rob said: “I was frequently travelling the 120-mile round trip between my son’s bedside, and my wife at home, who was worrying about where I would stay.”

After being on his son’s ward, Rob found out about SACA’s home away from home which was created to help house families when their children are being treated for cancer at the hospital. Rob ended up staying at the home from home for almost an entire month whilst his son received treatment.

Talking about staying in the home from home, Rob said: “Somewhere to call our Birmingham home took away so much anxiety and enabled us to rest between treatments and visits to Birmingham so I just wanted to say thank you for that.

“My family and I have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generous support of our friends and family, we hope the money raised will benefit other families like ours.”

Most families have to travel a considerable distance to get to QEHB for treatment so SACA’s home away from home provides a place for families to stay, just a five minute walk from the hospital where their loved ones are being treated. Families can use the home, free of charge, for any length of time, enabling them to remain close their children whilst they are being treated.

Beckie Knight, Administration Officer at QEHB Charity who looks after the home away from home bookings, said: “We at the Charity are so grateful for Rob’s incredible donation to the hospital charity. The money raised will mean that more families can stay in the home from home and be near their loved ones whilst they are receiving treatment.”

To find out more about QEHB Charity’s home away from homes and how you can support them like Rob, please click here.