Ride for their lives epic cycle ride arrives at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Patients and staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital welcomed a group of NHS riders cycling from London to Glasgow on an epic 540-mile journey to raise awareness of the health impacts of climate change.
The Ride for their Lives cyclists were joined by children, some of whom are former transplant patients, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from the Midlands to highlight the importance of successful COP26 discussions around air pollution and the air quality crisis if future generations are to inherit a habitable planet.
Beth Dennis, Communications lead of the Young Person Advisory Group at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) and a supporter of the campaign joined the riders for the final leg of their journey through the city to highlight the local pollution challenge.
She said: “Air pollution affects children the worst. The toxic air damages lung development. People who live near a main road or have cardiovascular diseases are also more vulnerable. There are around 36,000 premature deaths a year in the UK due to air pollution and the number is rising.
“Young people feel a lot of responsibility to change. I know many, including myself, that the climate crisis has negatively affected our mental wellbeing. Many are trying to make change but to stop this disaster striking we need more than that.
“There is still hope that we can turn this around if significant changes are made. I can’t stress enough how much we need to work as a team to make this change, leading to better wellbeing and a safer world for the future. Please get involved.”
The Trust is encouraging everyone to log cycle miles on an online form until 31 October so they can be added to those clocked up by Ride for their Lives.
The group, who set off from Great Ormond Street Hospital on Sunday, are hoping to start a chain reaction of support as they ride across the country on their way to the COP26 Conference in Glasgow. There are planned stops at several other children’s hospitals in Sheffield and Newcastle in the coming days where they hope to turn torque into talk and galvanise others to act and to establish a network of likeminded individuals who can help find solutions to build a more sustainable NHS.
Dr Christopher Chiswell, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at BWC met with the group as they arrived at the hospital.
He said: “The NHS has made a commitment to be net-zero by 2040, and as a specialist trust caring for children, we feel the expectation to be at the front on this change. We’ve developed a new sustainability strategy and climate adaption plan, and are ready to act today to secure their future.
“COP26 is a vital eleventh-hour moment in the fight for our children’s future, and I would encourage everyone to send in their miles to show we are in their corner.”
Following their stop at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the group cycled over to the Think Tank Museum where Pollution Pods, an interactive installation by artist Michael Pinksy which allows people to experience the air in the world’s most polluted cities was set up.
Dr Ian Wacogne, Consultant Paediatrician at BWC had this to say about his experience in the installation. He said: “That pod was disgusting, I could only manage it for about ten seconds but I know that this is the sort of air quality that our children, patients and we are having to put up with quite a lot from day to day directly outside our hospital. I hope people who experience this make some plans as a consequence.”
Dr Wacogne, joined the group for the 71.4-mile journey from Oxford to Birmingham. Talking about the ride, he said: “I am only joining the ride for one day but Ride for their Lives has been incredibly inspiring to be a part of.”
To sign-up and donate your virtual bike miles visit the news section of the BWC website.
The event was featured on BBC Midlands Today on 25 October. Click below to view the video.