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Wednesday 15 May 2024

Spin to the stars – rail industry colleagues’ pedal power raises money for hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to say thank you

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) recently teamed up to take part in an three-hour Spin-a-thon to raise around £1,500 for the Stars Appeal, Salisbury Hospital’s charity.

The event was to say thank you to the hospital staff for the kindness and care they showed to people injured in a train accident in the city three years ago.

All but one of the people hurt in the crash, on 31 October, 2021, were taken originally to Salisbury Hospital.

Earlier this month, seven spin bikes were placed inside the Salisbury ticket office for staff from Network Rail and SWR  to pedal for charity. On average, every spinner pedalled 18km for each 45-minute ride.

The Stars Appeal is the charity for Salisbury District Hospital. Every day, work funded by the charity enhances care and treatment for hundreds of patients at the Hospital. The Stars Appeal is raising over £1million this year to keep funding projects which offer direct, practical support to patients, their families, and the Hospital’s staff.

Matt Pocock, Network Rail Wessex route operations director, said: “We are grateful for the care that staff at Salisbury Hospital provided for the passengers affected in the Salisbury crash in 2021. Taking the time out to support their charitable ambitions was something members of my team, as well as SWR colleagues, were more than happy to do.”

Natalie Edwards, SWR General Manager for the West of England who is a fitness instructor in her spare time, added: “It was the most incredible day and fantastic to see the Best of the West in action working together. This was a joint event with our fantastic Network Rail colleagues who also were on many of the sessions.”

Helena Sinclair, of Stars Appeal, said: “We want to say a massive thank you to the team from South Western Railway and Network Rail, and to everyone who so generously donated, for their wonderful support. The team did amazingly well in their spin-a-thon challenge and the atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic. The money raised will help us to do even more for patients, their families, and the staff that care for them by funding projects across Salisbury District Hospital.”

If you wish to donate to the Stars Appeal, please visit: www.justgiving.com/page/south-western-railway-1712911378379