HUNDREDS of people have signed up for this Sunday’s Harefield fun run to raise money for Harefield Hospital.
The one mile or three-and-a-half mile fun run will raise money for a much needed MRI scanner at the hospital, which could help to diagnose heart problems.
As of last week, when the deadline for online sign-up passed, more than 350 people had pledged to join in.
And a big spike is expected in last minute and on-the-day sign ups.
Last year, more than 1,000 people took part raising more than £30,000.
The Gazette reported last week that the hospital is just £400,000 away from the £1.5million needed to buy the state-of-the-art scanner and it is hoping one last fundraising push will see it clinch the rest of the cash.
The run begins and ends at the hospital’s grounds in Hill End Road and takes a scenic route round countryside and farms.
It starts at 11.30am and there will be other activities including stalls, a barbecue, entertainment for children and a vintage car and military vehicle display. The popular team tug-of-war will be held before the main event.
The raffle and auction will be conducted in the afternoon by Mike Parry, a broadcaster who is also a patient at the hospital.
Entry costs £10 for adults and £5 for children.
The race will be started by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub who was a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital for more than 20 years and performed the country’s first double lung transplant. He will get things going alongside Nick Hurd MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner and transplant patients Irene Taylor and Richard Burbedge.
Desiree Zimmerman, from Harefield Hospital’s fundraising team, said: “It doesn’t matter if you walk or run around either of the two courses, we just want people to have a fun, healthy day out whilst supporting a worthy cause.”
