Children's Hospital Nurse Sets Herself Year-Long Charity Challenge

A PAEDIATRIC nurse is swapping her stethoscope for sweat bands as she takes on running and walking challenges to raise money for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Lauren Baybutt is lacing up her trainers for 12 challenges in 12 months. The variety of challenges includes a mammoth 95-mile walking trek in summer and finishing with 5K runs every day in December.

Lauren, who is a clinical educator, is hoping the challenges will raise more than £2,000 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.

Caption: Lauren Baybutt (left) with some running friends

She said: “I’ve done other challenges before – I once did one where I ran one mile every day for a year. So I decided this year I wanted to push myself a bit further and do something different.

“I’ve mixed things up so there will be a variety of challenges, all based around either walking or running.

“I think doing it over 12 months gives me enough time to raise the money and also keeps me motivated throughout the year.

“I’m looking forward to all of them but I think the one I’m most excited about is the London Marathon. It’s such a famous event and it will mean even more to me that I’m doing it for the hospital where I work.

“I’m also looking forward to 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours in September. Friends from my running club will be joining me for different bits. It will also be short bursts that are often, rather than one long slog, so I think that will be interesting.

“I’m also part of Team MFT doing the Great Manchester Run Half Marathon in May. That will me a memorable one and nice to do an event in the city.”

Caption: Lauren Baybutt outside Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Lauren came to the children’s hospital – part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) – in September 2019. She works on Ward 78 Neurosurgery, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Spinal Surgery and ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) and started as a staff nurse. She is now a clinical educator and works in Ward 78 as well as various departments throughout the hospital.

“I work with a variety of staff and help them with clinical training as well as completing their ward induction when they first start,” explained Lauren. “I also do some training with parents and families – for example helping them with how to place and look after a tracheotomy tube on their child, so I like that I’ve retained some of the patient contact.

“It’s great that this challenge allows me to fundraise for the place I work and I’m so passionate about.”

Lauren, who is 28 and lives in Castlefield, is one of two nifty nurses who have pledged to take on 12 challenges in 12 months. Luke O’Hara, a nurse at Wythenshawe Hospital, is doing 12 marathons throughout 2023. You can read more on his story here.

Meanwhile, Lauren’s first challenge was the Tatton Park 10K in January. She said: “It went well and was quite an easy one to kick things off, which was good planning I think. For February I did the Great North West Half Marathon in Blackpool where I got a personal best. So I was over the moon with that. Unfortunately the end will not be easy at all – 5K every day in December will be tough.”

Every penny raised by Lauren will help Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity fund treatment, research and care projects at the hospital. These will benefit the 280,000-plus young people who visit the hospital each year.

Caption: Smiles and sunshine - Lauren Baybutt out on a run

Georgia Sleigh, a Relationship Officer at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Lauren regularly updates her social media with all her training – it shows just how dedicated she is. We all love seeing how she is getting on.

“I’m looking forward to hearing how the various different challenges go. I hope there are some big celebration plans for the last run at the end of the year!”

To sponsor Lauren visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lauren-baybutt23