Mansfield bank staff's 'three million step' challenge to honour colleagues who lost battle cancer battle

Around 75 members of staff at Lloyds banks across the county hope to raise at least £2,000 for John Eastwood Hospice with the charity feat, launched by Kirkby branch manager Clare Sears.

John Eastwood Hospice is close to their hearts as in the last six weeks, the Kirkby branch lost a current and former staff member to cancer.

One passed away in John Eastwood Hospice while the other was cared for at home by dedicated hospice staff.

Clare said: “The challenge is really important to us and cancer is very personal to me. I lost my dad to cancer 20 years ago and my mum now has cancer.

“My mum and I lived in a hospice with my dad for the last two weeks of his life.

“We’d just turn around and there would be a cup of tea or a plate of sandwiches, or one night somebody had run a bath for one of us.

“It’s the care for the sick person, but also the care for the family and friends as well. People don’t think about that sometimes.”

The goal of the challenge is to raise £2,000, which Lloyds Bank will match, so a total of £4,000 could be donated.

The six Lloyds branches taking part across North Nottinghamshire are Kirkby, Mansfield, New Ollerton, Shirebrook, Sutton, and Worksop.

“Funding has been hit hard as a result of COVID19, but we continue to be amazed at the generosity of our community in supporting the hospice,” said Sharon Williams, John Eastwood Hospice CEO.

“Every step and every pound raised by Clare and the Lloyds Bank team help towards the on-going specialist palliative care that John Eastwood prides itself in delivering to patients and families.”

You can donate via JustGiving and help the team meet their target here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clarelloyds.

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