Team Sally reached fundraising milestone…
A well-known Hartlepool runner and survivor of a devastating car crash, Phil Holbrook, has marked a milestone in his fundraising for Alice House Hospice, in memory of his late wife Sally. Phil and Sally were both involved in a horrific traffic accident on 23 December 2012, which sadly took Sally’s life and left Phil with severe injuries.
In the five years since then and as part of Phil’s ongoing recovery he assembled Team Sally, a group of runners which continues to grow in numbers and take part in the Great North Run, to raise much needed funds for Hospice care.
The tributes that have been made in Sally’s memory and the money raised have left a legacy of care for Hospice patients, in her name.”
Greg Hildreth, Hospice Fundraiser
Phil and Sally were already both avid runners and supporters of Alice House Hospice (previously Hartlepool & District Hospice). After gradually returning to running, Phil and the team have taken part in the last four Great North Runs and generated in excess of £20,000 in tribute to Sally.
Sally is commemorated with a glass brick dedicated to her by Phil on the Wall of Light in the new Hospice gardens and also has a room named after Team Sally in the Hospice’s Long Term Care Unit.
Since returning to running, Phil has completed over 130 Park Runs, various marathons and other running challenges. He has also take part in a number of other Hospice fundraising activities, including organising charity nights, attending Hospice events and joining fellow runner and supporter Lee Dodgson to cross the Forth Bridge as part of his LEJOGAH campaign earlier this year.
Greg Hildreth, a fundraiser at the Hospice said “Phil continues to surprise and inspire with the amazing things he does. His generosity and positivity are remarkable and can’t help but rub off on those around him. He’s achieved so much and done it in such a way that has helped so many others. On behalf of everyone at the Hospice I would like to thank Phil and all who have supported him on his journey. The tributes that have been made in Sally’s memory and the money raised have left a legacy of care for Hospice patients, in her name.”
Phil said “The fundraising efforts of Team Sally would have never reached the level that it has done, in the last five years, without the commitment of friends and family, who have completed the Great North Runs alongside me. I would like to thank the many sponsors who have donated much needed finance, and also, the staff at Alice House Hospice, especially, Greg Hildreth, for their continued support, which has enabled us to raise this amount of money, as a legacy to Sally.”