Pride of Britain winner Ella Chadwick presents £2,000 cheque to Springhill Hospice

Ella Chadwick presents a cheque to Springhill Hospice

Whitworth’s Pride of Britain winner Ella Chadwick presented a £2,000 cheque to Springhill Hospice on Monday (10 June).

Ella, 11, and Janet Purdy presented the cheque for £2,225 to representatives of the hospice at the Cock & Magpie in Whitworth.

The funds were raised at the John Purdy 5k in May, two laps of the scenic Cowm Reservoir in Whitworth in memory of the former Rochdale Harrier, and the Keith Bailey mile.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127678/run-in-memory-of-john-purdy-raises-thousands-for-springhill-hospice

John, a very popular member of staff at Hopwood Hall College, died last year after battling cancer and was cared for at Springhill Hospice.

His widow Janet, mum Jackie and brother Martin were part of a 175-strong field that jogged or walked the two laps of the reservoir to raise funds for Springhill Hospice.

Barbara Lloyd, community support fundraiser for Springhill, said: “On behalf of our patients and families, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in raising such an amazing amount for Springhill in John’s memory.

“It means such a lot to us to have this support and it is so greatly appreciated.”

Race organiser, Andy O’Sullivan MBE said: “It was great to see really kind people raising funds in memory of John and Keith; both were really fine men.”

Ella was born with a rare kidney disease, Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, surviving over 40 gruelling operations in her first six years before having a lifesaving kidney donated from her grandmother.

She was forced to have both of her kidneys removed and, up until her life-saving transplant, she faced weekly hospital trips for dialysis at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. 

Even after her tough start in life, Ella has never let that stop her, pouring all of her determined efforts into supporting the hospital and raising funds to help other sick children.

In October 2018, Ella was recognised with the Child of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain awards ceremony and has since had a local race named after her.