2 July 2021
Pushing to the limits for children’s therapy
Bethan Delor Evans, is an Occupational Therapist for Southampton Children’s Hospital. Every day she sees how Charity funding could improve the care and experience of the children she works with.
“I started my role a year and half ago just before Covid-19 hit on the G3 Children’s Orthopaedic ward. We primarily treat children with a range of neuromuscular conditions and cerebral palsy who need major Orthopaedic surgery.
Southampton Children’s Hospital is one of only a handful of centres in the country that does this type of surgery.
Many of these children rely on equipment, including hoists, adapted wheelchairs and positioning equipment to enable them to live their lives to the fullest.
After surgery the children often have to wear orthotics, so this equipment needs to be adjusted and assessed for individual needs. This ensures each child can still do all the things they need, and want to do.
Our children have very specialist needs. At home they may have specialist hoists and sleep systems, but in hospital we just don’t have that same support.
That’s why I am raising money for Southampton Hospitals Charity, so we can purchase items that are specially adapted for the children. This will make their stay much more comfortable.
I started running a few years ago, but have never really thought of myself as a runner. In July I will be taking on the Man v Trinity races.
These are adventure runs, so you have obstacles along the way, it is not just running along a path!
- Man vs Coast 3 July – a 24 mile run along the Jurassic Coast, with lots of jumping in and out of the sea, running to set points in the water.
- Man vs Lakes 17 July – a 31 mile ultra marathon in the Lake District up and down mountains and wading through lakes and taking on a rope swing.
- Man vs Mountain 4 September – a quick 21 miles up and down Snowdon, and all the obstacles along the way!
Each of these will be challenge in itself, but doing them all together is going to be tough, especially the two in July, as there is not much time for my body to recover.
I think the hardest part at the moment is the training. Every weekend I have to put in about four hours a day to train. It does take over everything but I’m still looking forward to the challenge!”
Help Bethan enhance the care on the G3 Orthopaedics Ward in Southampton.