In 2017 I had the pleasure of documenting ‘The Big Walk’, an event run by Sheffield University in an effort to try and raise £2 Million for the Sheffield Scanner and this year I was invited back to capture round 2. The scanner campaign has raised over £1.7 million so far, hopefully 2018’s big walk can help the campaign with its final push to raise the £2 million needed.
For those who have not heard of the scanner I have quoted Sheffield University information on campaign.
“TheSheffield Scanner campaign aims to provide an MRI-PET facility in Sheffield, the first such facility in Yorkshire. MRI-PET is the most powerful imaging technology currently available and this facility will transform our research by increasing our understanding of the causes, effects and development of many kinds of disease.
An MRI-PET scanner combines images from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to provide a superior diagnostic picture in a single scan. Capturing anatomy and metabolic activity together enables us to see what is happening inside a diseased organ with unprecedented detail and whether it is responding to treatment. The MRI-PET scanner will be invaluable for many diseases, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Heart and lung diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Motor Neuron Disease (MND/ALS)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
The MRI-PET Facility will be a new building attached to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital close to the central University campus, ideal for both direct clinical use and for research programmes across priority disease areas.
MRI-PET is the future of imaging research. The ability to perform this type of imaging is crucial for cutting edge medical research and will provide us with a real opportunity to bring about treatments for patients more rapidly.”
For this year’s challenge, walkers took on a 26.2-mile marathon-distance Peak District walk! Starting in Lodge Moor, 3 miles west of the University, and finishing on the campus, the Big Walk 2018 took in wonderful scenery in the Peak District, including Stanage Edge, Derwent Edge, Low Bradfield and the Loxley valley.
Keep up to date with the big walk through the University of Sheffield’s Website and find out how you can help with the causes they’re raising money for in 2019!
Cheers, Timm.
