Proud Devonian, Sarah Sharland, is Deputy Manager at Barchester’s Kernow House Care Home in Launceston and can normally be found hard at work there looking after her residents and patients. However, on Sunday 27th April, Sarah will be ditching her uniform and donning her trainers to run 26.2 miles around the streets of London in order to raise funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. Sarah is taking part in the iconic London Marathon, a challenge that has been on her bucket list for years.
Sarah has been a keen runner since 2011 and always wanted to take on the London Marathon one day. She planned to do the distance virtually for the Foundation in 2022 but she contracted Long Covid and sadly her dream had to be shelved. Now that she is back to full fitness, she is very excited to finally be able to take part in the London Marathon in person and raise funds for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, which helps older people and those with disabilities stay connected with their local communities.
Speaking about her motivation to do the event, Sarah comments: “Ever since I joined Barchester in 2010, I have always admired the work of the Foundation. When I worked at one of our sister homes, the Manor, I saw first-hand how it helps people. We had a young man who had a progressive neurological disease and one of his goals was to be able to continue to socialise with his friends. The Foundation funded a powered wheelchair that would allow him to stand at the bar with his friends. I really like that the Foundation focuses on connecting people with their communities and enabling people to be active and engaged. It is going to be tough to get round 26 miles but the support of everyone here and the thought of all the money I’m raising will help me get over the finish line.”
Leigh Stanley, General Manager of Kernow House said: “Everyone at Kernow House is super proud of Sarah for taking on this challenge. Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is a great cause that helps many people in need, especially lonely people, and helps them to stay active and connected which is a cause very close to the hearts of all our staff and residents, and we will be cheering Sarah on all the way, we all think she’s an absolute superstar!”
If you would like to support Sarah, please click here.