Haematology Staff prepare for 50km trek

For the third consecutive year, a team of Haematology staff are undertaking an epic trekking challenge in aid of ELF.

This year's challenge is a one-day, 50km trek from Totnes to Paignton on Saturday 5th September. The team will be starting with a section of the new South Hams Way before completing a tough section of the South West Coast path for the home stretch into Paignton, finishing with a well-deserved ice-cream (or something stronger!) at the town pier.

The team consists of Haematology consultants, nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Advanced Clinical Practitioners. This year's challenge follows two similar treks completed by the Yarty and Cherrybrook ward teams for ELF: in 2024 they completed a 30km 'Dartmoor in a Day' hike, before increasing the distance in 2025 with a 26 mile trek across Exmoor (where the cover photo on this story is taken from). Since beginning this now annual challenge, the self-named 'Team Haem' have raised an incredible £7,100 for ELF's vital services.

    The team is once again under the safe leadership of Rachael Jones, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner and an ELF fellow from 2023. Rachael says "With a distance of 50km and an elevation gain of 1300m, this will definitely be a challenge and is bigger than anything we've done previously. We are all very grateful for the equipment and support ELF provides for the NHS team on the ward, and we see on a daily basis the difference that the charity's services make to the lives of our patients and their relatives, which is why we're back for our toughest challenge yet!"

Please join us in wishing this wonderful group of people good luck and please show them your support with a donation if you can on their JustGiving page:

Team fundraising for ELF is fundraising for ELF