A netball team which brings together women from the North East Lincolnshire community has been given a fighting chance thanks to a financial throw-in from HMT St Hugh’s Hospital.

Kerry Telford, a receptionist at the hospital in Grimsby, approached her colleagues for help after her netball team’s previous sponsor withdrew its support shortly before registration for the new season was due.

As St Hugh’s is a non-profit organisation owned by registered charity the Healthcare Management Trust (HMT), all surplus is used to develop not only its resources but also causes concerning dementia and health promotion.

Gary Allington, who was appointed as the hospital’s dedicated Health Promotion Officer earlier this year, explained: “As part of our efforts to promote healthy and active lifestyles, we encourage staff to get moving and therefore jumped at the chance to give Kerry’s team the helping hand they needed.

“We were saddened to learn that without sponsorship they wouldn’t have been able to continue playing, as the cost of England Netball membership was too high for the team to pay themselves.

“As well as paying their fees for the season, we are also funding their smart new kit which is currently being made.”

The newly named St Hugh’s Netball Team is part of the Grimsby and District Senior Netball League, which has been established for 25 years and is made up of around 30 teams across three divisions.

Kerry said: “Our team has been meeting at Oasis Academy Wintringham in Grimsby once a week for the last two years and competing in charity tournaments at the end of each summer and winter season.

“We love it as it’s a great opportunity to let off some steam by playing a competitive but fun game and mix with other likeminded local women.

“We are so grateful to St Hugh’s for stepping in at the last minute to support us when we faced the threat of having to stop playing.”

HMT has a history of championing sport: in 2007 it became the official healthcare provider for the professional cycling team now known as JLT Condor, and in 2015 it established its own academy to support emerging junior cycling talent.

This summer, St Hugh’s Hospital also bought a full team kit for the girls’ football team at New Waltham Academy in Grimsby.

To find out more about its community work, visit: hmthospitals.org/st-hughs

Ends

Notes to editors:
• St Hugh’s Hospital is owned and managed by the Healthcare Management Trust (HMT) a registered charity and not for profit organisation which was established in 1985.
• HMT is committed to the development of facilities, local health promotion and funding medical research.
• St Hugh’s specialises in the delivery of cosmetic surgery, orthopaedic, ENT and general surgery to private and NHS patients.
• The hospital is part of the Choose and Book scheme which allows any patient in the UK to select St Hugh’s as their hospital of choice for a number of procedures.
• St Hugh’s is dedicated to its community and runs a range of activities to encourage healthy lifestyles in its staff, patients and the public.
• Follow St Hugh’s on Facebook www.facebook.com/hmtsthughshospital and Twitter https://twitter.com/HMTStHughs to keep up to date with the latest news.
• For more information about the hospital and the procedures available please visit the website: http://hmthospitals.org/st-hughs

For media information contact:
Zoe Lamb
Shooting Star
01522 528540
zoe@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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