THE SQUARE AT UPMINSTER MARATHON 2020

The MCA Trust & Essex Freemasonry working with the
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust & Southend University Hospital.

The MCA Trust, in conjunction with Seven Kings Lodge, held a unique “Square Marathon” on Sunday 13th September 2020, which raised over £10,000 for the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

W Bro Paul Reed (Past Master of Seven Lodge) and his wife Ann, both amateur runners with the Essex based Benfleet Runners, ran a total of 249 laps around the car park of The Square at Upminster (that's over 26.2 miles) in temperatures that at times exceeded 28 degrees C.

This donation will enable The MCA Trust Children’s Charity to build on the work it has already completed at the Princess Alexandra Harlow & Basildon Hospitals in 2019, by providing a full refurbishment of both Oncology Suites on Neptune Children’s Ward at Southend Hospital in Essex.

This package of works will include new state of the art equipment to enable the children that use these suites to be able see and talk to their parents, siblings and grandparents whilst in isolation and undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

In addition, The MCA Trust will be giving children the opportunity to have access to other media platforms, which were top of a “Wish List” following the in house survey of both parents and children who have used these suites in the past.

Vikki Stone, Head of Children Nursing at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"I am thrilled to be working, again with The MCA Trust. We worked together at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow so I am really looking forward to seeing what The MCA Trust is proposing following the survey we conducted. These two rooms are used by children whilst undertaking cancer treatment and the improvements will help our staff make their stay as comfortable as possible."

Keith Isaacs, MCA Trust Chairman, said:
"This donation is yet another example of the fantastic support we receive from Essex Freemasonry, which really does enable us all to make a difference to children with cancer. We have received donations from many lodges, including individual Masons and the Province of Essex itself. It is important that we spend this donation in the right areas, using the hospitals’ own supply chains to give us best value and the Provincial Executive can be assured that we get the maximum return on what is a significant Investment."

Some of the photos taken on the day (click a thumbnail to enter the show).