Wendy Gelder has raised an impressive £4,076 for St Barnabas Hospice after taking on the Lincoln 10K as part of a special celebration for her husband Steve’s 60th birthday. What began as a light-hearted birthday challenge quickly turned into a meaningful fundraising effort. To mark both her own 59th birthday and Steve’s milestone 60th, Wendy committed to running the Lincoln 10K, with the couple choosing to use the occasion to support a cause close to their hearts rather than exchanging gifts.
The fundraising initiative was in aid of St Barnabas Hospice, a local charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care, as well as vital support for patients and families across Lincolnshire. Wendy said the idea originated from Steve, who suggested the 10K as a shared celebration challenge. With encouragement from family and friends, she undertook the training and successfully completed the event, backed by strong community support and generous donations.
Speaking after the event, Wendy expressed her gratitude for the contributions received:
This started as a birthday idea between myself and Steve, but it quickly became something much bigger. The support from everyone has been incredible, and we are so thankful to everyone who donated. St Barnabas Hospice does such important work, and we’re proud to have been able to contribute.
A spokesperson for St Barnabas said:
We are simply in awe of the incredible efforts you have all put into training, raising awareness of our hospice and fundraising. I am so pleased to announce that, as of today, our Lincoln 10k team have raised £22,571. That is an INCREDIBLE amount!
