WHEN Harry Shaw celebrated his 18th birthday he decided the best gift of all would be not for him but for our patient care.
Instead of the usual presents, he asked for cash donations that raised almost £200 for St Luke's, where his dad David had been a patient.
Having started on fundraising, the trainee bricklayer is now in training for the Asda Foundation Sheffield Half Marathon, where he will be joined by brother Joe and friend Lewis Dawson, whose dad Terry was also a St Luke's patient.
And even though the marathon does not take place until April 14, the trio have already raised an incredible £1,135!
“St Luke’s is a charity that has been close to us all,” said Harry, who lives in Stocksbridge.
“The staff were fantastic when my dad was a patient – they would do anything to make him comfortable and they would do anything for us as a family too.
“They supported our mums, Helen and Catherine, and all of us through a difficult time in our lives.
“We haven’t really set ourselves a specific fundraising target but what we are saying is that we want to raise as much as we can because St Luke’s deserves everybody’s support.
“We are grateful for every donation large or small and every penny helps. Just 23 per cent of funding is provided by the NHS, so St Luke’s depends on donations through fundraising to keep up the amazing work that they do.”
Anybody wanting to support Harry, Joe and Lewis can make a donation by visiting Harry Lewis and Joe