Devon health and well-being charity partners up with Exeter’s Great West Run

A charity that supports Devon residents in their quest for improved health and well-being has become an official partner to Exeter’s Great West Run for the first time. The 10km route and a half marathon through the heart of the city will take  place on Sunday 22nd May 2022 . 

Exminster-based Westbank Community Health and Care works with people of all ages across Devon to promote and improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Now it's asking ten of the charity’s staff and volunteers, or their friends and family, to step up to the challenge of representing Westbank in the Great West Run to raise money for its work.

Andy Hood, who heads up the successful Westbank service Devon Carers, says, “Our team is always up for a challenge so I’ve no doubt we’ll get together a great team for next month’s event. A few people have already signed up. It’s a brilliant opportunity for our runners to raise extra funds for the amazing work we do across Devon - supporting unpaid carers and young carers, adults with care needs, families needing wrap-around care, and everyone in between! We’re asking each of our runners to commit to raising £250 in sponsorship. Hopefully, they’ll have a lot of fun doing so. Other supporters will be helping out at the event.” 

Andy adds, “We want to do more, with more people and to get our vital support to everyone in Devon.  Our sponsored runners will help us achieve this ambition.” 

It’s the first time Westbank has been an official charity partner for the Great West Run, which had to be postponed last year because of the pandemic.  

Westbank employs almost 200 staff across Devon, supported by an army of more than 600 volunteers. Last year, the charity won awards for two of its services: Westbank’s Neighbourhood Friends Volunteers were recognised with The Queens Award for Voluntary Service and Devon Carers’ Hospital Service was the winner of a Health Service Journal award.