King’s Lynn Southgates Medical Centre fundraising walk in aid of Night Shelter

Staff have responded to the plight of a night shelter that requires funding by taking part in a fundraising walk.

The employees at Southgates Medical Centre had organised a team building exercise last Saturday and decided to combine it to raise money for the Lynn Night Shelter.

The shelter is due to close for the summer and, before it re-opens in October, coordinator Lucy McKitterick has to secure enough funding to cover initial running costs and be confident further funding will become available over the autumn and winter.

Joan Randall said: “We feel that anyone can become homeless, with mortgage rates and the cost of living all going up to create the present crisis.

“We see people with drug and alcohol issues, and people fleeing domestic violence and any of these can leave a person homeless.

“Therefore we would like to support the night shelter as no one should have to sleep on the streets in this day and age.”

Some 35 members of staff set off from Sutton Bridge lighthouse and walked 13 miles along Peter Scott Way back to the surgery in Lynn.

She said: “Modern medicine is the icing on the cake , but as a practice we see how lack of good housing causes health issues.

“We hope other people will help support the night shelter.”

The current fundraising total donated in cash is £650 with a further £85 from a cake stall at the Woottons surgery organised by staff member Alison Hornsby.

Joan continued: “The surgery plans future team building and money raising ventures, the next one being an Ironman competition, with a twist.”