Health / Former NHS chief to take on 1,200 mile cycling challenge for charity
A FORMER NHS Shetland chief executive is preparing to get on the saddle and undertake a mammoth 1,200-mile cycling challenge across Scotland for charity.
Ralph Roberts, who spent 14 years at the local health board before moving to NHS Borders in 2019, will raise money for three organisations.
Funds will partly go to the charitable arms of NHS Shetland and NHS Borders.
These provide support to staff and patients in their respective areas by funding additional equipment, services, training and staff wellbeing services, over and above those normally paid for through the NHS.
Funds will also be raised for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).
Roberts is aiming to highlight the importance of the NHS for people’s health.
Starting in May, the route for the ride will take Roberts from Unst in Shetland to Melrose in the Scottish Borders while visiting the most northerly, westerly, easterly and southerly health centres in Scotland, as well as the headquarters of all the country’s health boards.
During the ride, Roberts hopes to raise funds for SAMH as well as the charitable arms of NHS Shetland and NHS Borders, the two health boards where he spent the majority of his career before retiring.
He said: “Having been given the opportunity of a very satisfying career by the NHS, after retiring I wanted to give something back and having done a bit of cycling thought this would be a good way of doing this, while also giving me the opportunity to improve my own health and enjoy the beauty of Scotland.
“I am also keen to raise some funds for charity and am delighted to be doing this in aid of SAMH as well as NHS Borders and NHS Shetland’s charities.
“I know how important it is that we increase our focus on mental health and wellbeing, both from my own challenges with mental wellbeing during my career, and how much more we can do as an NHS to support those in our communities who need our services.
“Having worked in NHS Borders and NHS Shetland, I am also delighted to be supporting their charities, who do valuable work supporting the local staff to provide even better services, with additional equipment, training and staff support.”
SAMH’s Catriona Wilson said: “We are so grateful to Ralph for taking on this incredible challenge to raise funds and awareness of mental health.
“At SAMH, we know how important physical activity is for our mental health and we run programmes that encourage and support people to live more active lives.
“The funds raised will allow us to continue to support people with mental health problems and mental illness across Scotland.
“I’d like to wish Ralph good luck on his exciting challenge.”
Karen Hamilton, chair of the Borders health board endowment fund (‘The Difference’) added: “Both the challenge itself and the causes he has chosen to support are a fitting reflection of his career in the NHS.
“People may not be aware but as chief executive, Ralph was also a trustee of ‘the difference’ and has seen at first hand the great work that the official charity of NHS Borders can do with the generous donations and spirited fundraising we receive.
“He understands the impact his efforts will have on patient care here in the Scottish Borders and I wish him well with his ambitious bike ride.”
Chair of NHS Shetland’s endowment committee said Lincoln Caroll said he was “thrilled” Roberts had picked the local endowment fund as a beneficiary.
“I encourage everyone to generously support Ralph as he takes on this challenging ride through Shetland and beyond, benefiting not just our fund, but two other incredible charities as well,” he said.
Nearly £1,000 has been raised already, with people able to donate online.
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