A CHILDREN’S cancer nurse from Bury is one of the stars of a new fundraising campaign encouraging people in the North West to be superheroes for poorly patients.

Stuart Holroyd has been a nurse at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for the past eight years.

Caring for some of the hospital’s sickest patients, he knows better than anyone just how important fundraising is to the hospital and how it can make a real difference to the patients treated there.

And on May 28, he will be joining more than 40,000 other runners taking part in the gruelling 10km Great Manchester Run.

Stuart said: “Every single day I am in awe of the incredible fighting spirit that our young patients show when diagnosed with cancer.

“Their bravery is just on another level and that’s why I want to show my support by taking part in this run.

“I’ve decided it’s my turn to be a superhero for the patients, helping to raise money that will make a big difference to the ward.”

Stuart added that he is not a runner by any stretch of the imagination but knowing that he will be running for such a good cause will spur him on.

“My aim is to try and raise as much money as possible for the Ward and to make my patients proud,” he said.

“People often ask me what it is like to work on a Children’s Cancer ward, as they think it must be such a tough and challenging job, but I always tell them that the ward is actually one of the happiest places in the hospital.

“Yes the children are extremely ill but the staff and families on the ward are dedicated to making the ward as happy, positive and fun place as possible.

Charitable funds play an important part in making the wards warm, welcoming and comfortable for our poorly patients.

Lucy Naylor, Events Manager at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity said: “We’re delighted that Stuart is not only taking on the Great Manchester Run, but is also fronting our new fundraising campaign for the event!“The campaign aims to encourage people of the North West to assemble their team of everyday heroes for the Great Manchester Run and raise money for our poorly patients. “Last year we were lucky to have a record number of runners taking to the streets of Manchester and we want to continue our success this year, so If you’d like to join our superhero runners, like Stuart, then we’d love to hear from you!”

To apply for one of the charity’s free, guaranteed entry places visit: www.rmchcharity.org.uk/events/great-manchester-run-17

And you can watch Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity fundraising film, featuring nurse Stuart by visiting their YouTube film at www.youtube.com/watch?v=st2MG4_154M