“Even though I came away with such grief, I also came away thinking about how the people working there were absolutely incredible.”
If you’re looking for inspiration to get your running trainers on, look no further than our interview with Team SHC fundraiser Jason Sykes.
Jason has done not one, not two, but seven events so far in his fundraising journey and he’s not stopping there…
What inspired you to start running for Sheffield Hospitals Charity?
I’ve been running since 2020; I’m a lockdown starter! I just wanted to do something to keep me busy, within the rules, so I started going for a run and over time I realised I could do it for charity too.
It started as a hobby and now it has become a lifestyle if you like. I’ve done the Sheffield 10K, Sheffield Half, and now I look in the calendar and I’m event driven. It isn’t a one-off anymore, I aim for 2 to 3 a year now and want to go 4-5 a year.
Do you have any personal stories or reasons for running that you're happy to share?
Both my parents were in and out of hospital towards the end of their lives and passed away there, my father in 2013 and my Mum in 2023.
I’d already spent a lot of time there but the evening my mum was admitted as an emergency to Northern General Hospital, the evening she passed, was the hardest day of my life. Even though I came away with such grief, I also came away thinking about how the people working there were absolutely incredible.
I thought, “I’ve got to do something to give back.”
Have you done anything like this before?
I’ve not done that many events until recently, but I always want to run with purpose. For me, there’s no point in me running some sort of challenge or event with a plain t-shirt on. I always want someone else to be able to get something out of it which is why I started fundraising.
What made you choose Sheffield Hospitals Charity as your fundraising charity?
After everything that happened with my Mum, I started looking at charities linked to Sheffield’s NHS, specifically the Northern General Hospital, and that’s how I came across Sheffield Hospitals Charity. Straight away I thought, “That’s it!” The more I researched, the more I felt really touched by all the incredible work the charity are doing. With everything my dad had been through, in and out of hospitals, my Mum had also received care at different places across Sheffield’s NHS. I felt like by raising awareness and money for Sheffield Hospitals Charity, I’m giving back to the people that took care of my family.
It's been really amazing to do something out of such trauma and such grief.
Do you have any advice or tips you’d give to others about getting into running, or fundraising for SHC?
For running, I could give a million tips. For me it’s just believe in yourself. I know it is a cliché but it’s true! When I started running, I would never have thought I could do a half marathon, a marathon, or even 10K. But you’ve got to believe that you can do it.
Don’t think you can do everything immediately and believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter how fast you run, even if you do a brisk walk, you’re out there and you’re doing it for the benefit of yourself and/or others. You can do a bit of jogging, get your body used to it. For the first month even, I’d say don’t look at your watch, don’t look at how fast or how far, just do what you can.
If you can do a Sheffield Half or 10K, I would say 100% do it. You know when you’re running it, one of the greatest things is seeing the charity and supporters there really cheering the runners on. It makes you feel so special even though it is for everyone!
In terms of fundraising, I’d say don’t be scared or embarrassed to just put it out there. We tend to be worried about asking people for money, but you’ve got to go for it. Even if people can’t donate, I’ve asked them to read my story and just raise awareness of why I’m doing it and why Sheffield Hospitals Charity means so much to me. I think it’s important to give your reason, share your story, and keep promoting awareness.
What specific goals or milestones are you hoping to achieve through your running and fundraising efforts?
Next up for me is the Manchester Marathon but I’ve got a list of stuff I’d like to do! They include the flagship UK ones like the Great North Run and the London Marathon. I’m planning to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks later this year. I’d also love to do Paris, New York City, Chicago, Boston – they are my bucket list ones before I give up on running marathons. The overall goal has become to run 25 marathons. I’m not sure if my body will give up on me before then but that’s my plan!
With those, I want to be carrying the logo with me at all of them. Imagine me running in Chicago with the Sheffield Hospitals Charity flag! My JustGiving target is £1000 but I’m just grateful for any support. I’m just going to keep going. The bigger the events, the more exposure or funds I can give to the charity and their incredible work, the better!
Have you received any support?
Yeah, genuinely it feels like you’re all supporting me and my events which is nice. Even when I get just a little message from Lauren at the charity, it feels like a big support and nice to have you cheering me on even from afar.
I’ve even got a thank you card that the charity sent through on the shelf with my medals. The little things honestly make such a difference.
What would you say to others who are considering getting involved in raising funds for SHC to support Sheffield’s NHS?
Do it. This is an amazing charity that supports so many people and different areas. Don’t be scared to do it because anything that you do, bake sale, abseil, put it out there and go for it. Whatever you do, get out there, make it fun and raise some money for an incredible cause.
If you’ve felt inspired by Jason’s story, pop across to our Fundraising page and start your own journey with Team SHC today.
Published: Tuesday 11th of March 2025