Voluntary services administrator Fliss Bates has committed to walking 21 miles at the Hospital Hero Hike, as a moving tribute to her father, Allan Herbert.

This family occasion will see Fliss walk alongside her husband, Andy, brother, Rob and his girlfriend, Katie, in memory of their dear dad as an opportunity to give back to the medical team that provided extraordinary care to Allan, at Ipswich Hospital’s Renal Unit.

Following kidney failure over 25 years ago, Allan has since been cared for by the unit and during this time received two Kidney Transplants at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Dialysis at Ipswich Hospital.

In 2023 Allan was diagnosed with Neck Cancer and passed away shortly after in August. In dedicating their time to fundraise for the hospital, the family want to honour their father's legacy.

Recalling her father's resilience as a longstanding kidney patient and his strength in facing health challenges, Fliss brings to light the positive impact of his medical team's exceptional care, highlighting her personal connection to the hospital.

She said, “He could never fault the care that was given to him here, even when he was a patient during his time with cancer, the kidney doctors were still keeping a close eye on him, they would check in with him and they really went above and beyond”.

The teams’ decision to fundraise for the department is a thoughtful gesture of appreciation and an opportunity to give back to the medical team that provided amazing care to their father. “We want to ensure that future patients experience the same exceptional standard of care that my father received” Fliss added.

Fliss Bates' determination to participate in the Hospital Hero Hike, fuelled by her deep love and appreciation for her late father, serves as a testament to the remarkable impact of our incredible NHS staff.

You can also show your support for our incredible staff by registering for the Hospital Hero Hike on Saturday 4 May 2024 at: Hospital Hero Hike 2024

To sponsor Fliss please visit her JustGiving page.