Fundraising marathon runners shortlisted for awards
Two marathon runners have been shortlisted for an award after raising £10,000 for a hospital trust's charity in the Black Country.
Stuart Bailey and Earl Edwards dressed up as Peppa Pig and The Pink Panther for the The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity.
It saw the pair, from Codsall, run 100 miles in costume after bypassing their target of running up to 25 miles and an aim to raise £200.
Now the two men have been shortlisted for the BBC Radio West Midlands "Make A Difference Heroes Award after raising the funds.
Stuart, a store manager at a meat factory in Bilbrook and Earl, a care worker from Codsall, said: "We were in total shock when we received the news about being shortlisted for the awards. We didn’t expect to get this far, all we wanted to do was run a few miles and create a few smiles – we have definitely achieved that!"
The pair, both aged 47, will attend a virtual ceremony towards the end of March hosted by singing sensation Beverly Knight, and panto star Matt Slack.
BBC Radio WM were inundated with nominations from the public and voted Stuart and Earl into the top three for the Community Spirit Award.
It is given to an individual or group whose 3fforts have made a real difference and uplifted spirits of people in Birmingham and the Black Country.
Leanne Bood, fundraising coordinator for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, said: "I was thrilled to hear that Stuart and Earl had been shortlisted for a BBC Radio WM Make a Difference Heroes Award. They have done so much to support our patients and staff – we will always be grateful."
Their fundraising contributed towards The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s Covid-19 Appeal, which has been used to purchase iPads and TVs for patients to use, as well as several initiatives to support staff wellbeing.
