#DoItForSimon raises £6,443 for York Hospital in thank you to staff

22 JANUARY 2026

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity is thanking Simon Middleton and the family, friends and local runners behind the #DoItForSimon campaign after raising £6,443 for York Hospital.

Simon is a seasoned runner with a passion for endurance challenges. Over the past decade, he has taken on everything from 17-minute parkruns to seven marathons in seven days, as well as 110-mile ultramarathons in under 30 hours.

He has also spent years supporting other runners, volunteering as a parkrun Event Director and Run Director, and serving as Chair of York Postal Harriers, where he has helped to mentor and encourage people to take on challenges of their own.

In November 2024, Simon faced his toughest challenge yet when he was admitted to York Hospital critically unwell. He and his family were frightened, but the NHS teams caring for him supported them throughout and stayed focused on his recovery.

At the start of 2025, Simon’s family launched the #DoItForSimon campaign to thank the staff who cared for him, with an initial fundraising target of £5,000.

Supporters across the local running community took on personal challenges throughout the year, including the Yorkshire Marathon, the Haxby 10k, and many other events, as the campaign gathered momentum and more people got involved.

In December 2025, Simon returned to York Knavesmire to complete his first parkrun since becoming unwell - a milestone in his rehabilitation. The event raised a further £470, taking the final total to £6,443 and comfortably beating the original target.

Emma Sargent, Fundraising Manager at York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, said:

“Simon’s determination is genuinely inspiring, but what stands out just as much is the community that has grown around him. The #DoItForSimon campaign has brought people together - family, friends and local runners taking on challenges to say thank you to the staff who cared for Simon when he needed it most."

“This is a fantastic achievement and a real credit to everyone who got involved. We’re really grateful to Simon and his family for choosing to support York Hospital in this way, and we want to say thank you to every single person who ran, donated, encouraged and shared the message. It’s made a real difference.”

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity supports local NHS services by funding extra items that make a difference for patients, families and staff - including improvements to hospital environments, additional equipment, and projects that enhance care and experience.