The Big Push 2011!

Picture:  The Mattu family who were the team who raised the most money in The Big Push 2010

The annual sponsored trolley dash to raise money for premature babies and their families in Coventry and Warwickshire will be held in October.

Energetic teams of four are urged to enter the Big Push on Sunday, October 9 which is the year’s biggest fundraising event held by the Grace Research Fund.

There will only be one route this year from George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton to the University Hospital in Coventry, starting at 9am.

Bucket collections will be held along the route including the streets of Bedworth and Foleshill Road in Coventry in the event which has the Deeley Group and Harrison Beale and Owen as its main sponsors.

Registration is £10 per person and all sponsorship money goes to the Grace Research Fund which funds research into the causes of premature births and the best forms of neonatal care.

Her Honour Judge Patricia Deeley will present prizes to the team with the best decorated trolley and medals to all the participants once everyone has crossed the finishing line outside the maternity unit at the University Hospital.

Dr Andy Coe, Consultant Paediatrician at University Hospital, said around £6,000 had been raised last year.

“The Big Push is one of the highlights of our fundraising calendar since it really captures the imagination of the public and it is consistently our most effective way of raising money for the Grace Research Fund,” he said.

“We have decided to only have one route this year which means it will be slightly longer from just over nine miles to 11.5 miles and we are changing it slightly to include Foleshill Road.

“Everyone taking part will be given a T-shirt to wear and afterwards we will be hosting a BBQ for competitors to rest their weary legs and talk about their great adventure.

“It would be great to have 15 teams enter and we would encourage anyone thinking of setting themselves a challenge for the autumn to take part and persuade their families, friends, colleagues and neighbours to become involved in the Big Push since it is always great fun.”

Mark Ashfield, director at Coventry and Leamington based financial experts HB&O who are supporting the event, said taking part in the Big Push always produced a superb camaraderie among those involved as well as raising money for a local worthy cause.

He said: “The Grace Research Fund relies entirely on public donations to continue its excellent work at University Hospital, George Eliot Hospital, Warwick Hospital and the University of Warwick."

“In the past there have been some weird and wonderfully decorated shopping trollies and I am sure the entrants will be letting their imaginations run wild again this year and at the same time helping the charity continue its good work.”

For further details and registration please email:

admingraceresearchfund [dot] org