Another popular Mountbatten event, which raises vital income to care for patients at the end of their lives and support families through bereavement, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Osborne Run with Mountbatten was due to be held on 28th June 2020, but will now be held at a date later in the year when circumstances allow. It comes after Walk the Wight 2020 was cancelled in its traditional format.
Nigel Hartley, CEO of Mountbatten, says:
“The event has become a firm family favourite, held in the wonderful grounds of the Island’s Osborne House, so I’m sure this will be a disappointment to many. However, with so much uncertainty about how government restrictions will continue to impact on all of our lives over the coming months, our only option is to hold events such as this one later this year.”
The Government look set to make adjustments to the lockdown next week.
Each year, Osborne Run raises thousands of pounds that goes towards looking after people not just on the hospice ward but across the Island, in their own homes and care homes, and at St Mary’s Hospital.
Nigel added:
“The financial losses we are experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic mean there is a risk of not being able to offer as much of our expert Mountbatten care and support as Islanders deserve and need. There is a very real concern about how we can sustain our services into the future; despite the recent financial support for hospices announced by the government, this funding will not cover all of the losses we’re experiencing through event cancellations and the closure of our shops.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have seen an extraordinary growth in support from the Island in recent weeks and my appeal to the community is still to sign up to Osborne Run, in whatever format it will be held later this year”.
A new date of Sunday 13th September 2020 has been tentatively set as an alternative and registration is currently open for participants to sign up to the event.
Nigel concludes:
“No matter what happens, we must still plan ahead as if this event will happen later this year. Given the extraordinary financial pressures we face, we hope that people continue to sign up in the knowledge that we will still stage an event, whether at Osborne or virtually. We need your support more than we have ever done before.”
A coronavirus appeal in support of Mountbatten’s work has so far raised over £100,000.
Such a shame but let’s hope they keep carisbrooke castle & osborne house closed and reopen them after basically everything is open and when ferries are back to normal services as if we dont your just asking for tourists to come and potentially spread it.
This disgusting virus is causing so much harm to the charities which really deserve supporting.
Please try to fund this charity, as I know, it is so easy to not bother in these stress filled surreal days we are now living in.
Remember CV is NOT the only game in town and Mountbatten need our support as much, if not more than ever.
Lovely people doing a wonderful service to not only the patients but to their families too.