RAG’s fundraising event ‘The Great Big Push’

Warwick Raising and Giving (RAG), the campus’s volunteering society, is encouraging everyone to come together to raise money for the Grace Research Fund on Saturday November 15.

The Grace Research Fund is a charity that supports local research into the causes of premature birth. It is a community intervention to support families with premature babies. Jaundice measurements and premature labour in at-risk mothers are what the research fund are aiming to provide in the future.

The University hospital, Coventry and Warwickshire hospitals will be filled with brightly decorated trollies at 11am on Saturday.

Teams of students from Warwick and Coventry, together with health professionals and families of premature infants will raise money and awareness by pushing shopping trollies and buggies for eight miles to a finishing line at the University of Warwick’s Cryfield pavilion.

Andy King, the president of RAG stated: “This is the first time RAG have funded the event and this year is vastly more focused on student involvement.”

Mr King also stressed the importance of postgraduate involvement this year, “We are estimating 22 people from Warwick this year, we are hoping for a good amount of postgraduates but we will not turn down anyone.”

RAG are aiming to raise thousands of pounds in just one day through ‘The Great Big Push’. This targeted amount seems achievable according to Dr Andy Coe, consultant paediatrician at the University hospital. He explained that “The last time we held the Great Big Push we raised £6,000.”

However, Dr Coe thinks that RAG needs more volunteers this year, in order to push the boundaries, “We want to improve on those achievements, and this event is only successful because of the generous and enthusiastic efforts of everyone who takes part”.

In order to take part you must pay a fee of £10 per adult or £5 per student, all children who are aged 15 or below get free entry. A small amount of the money paid goes towards a buffet meal which is provided at the University of Warwick Cryfield pavilion at the end of the mad dash and hot drinks are provided en route.

RAG is encouraging small teams of four to enter and raise money for the Grace Research Fund, this money will be put towards investigating the causes of premature birth and to help find the best forms of neonatal care.

To register a team, email graceresearchfund@warwick.ac.uk or visit www.graceresearchfund.org