Fundraising Dean is running for RJAH

On Sunday 23 April this year, Dean Hornsey is running in this year’s London Marathon and fundraising for The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital. The marathon is 26.2 miles of a mostly flat route through London and around some of the most famous landmarks. Thousands of spectators line the streets to cheer the participants, some providing dance and entertainment along the way!

This year is the first one to be held back in its traditional month of April, since 2019. Dean said, “This is an event which I have been lucky enough to gain a place for. Since watching my wife run the marathon a number of years ago, I have always wanted to step up to the challenge.”

Talking about why he is running for the hospital, Dean said, “I simply emailed the RJAH and asked if they had any spaces for this year’s Marathon and luckily, I was granted one!

“As we are all aware, the hospital is local to us and I’m sure most people have used the services of RJAH whether it’s for a sprained foot or for major surgery. The hospital is world renowned for all the great work they do and this is why I am reaching out to our local community to help me raise some much-needed funds for them.”

Training for a marathon takes a lot of time and stamina, just to make sure the body is capable on event day and shouldn’t be underestimated. The aim is to avoid injury in the run up to the day, but really cover some distance during the training period, eventually tapering off towards marathon week.

The hospital is world renowned for all the great work they do and this is why I am reaching out to our local community to help me raise some much-needed funds for them.

“I would like to think my training is on track and progressing well. I work in the construction industry, so my weekdays are time-limited, however I run most weekday mornings at 5am and make sure I do a long run at the weekends,” Dean said.

Dean is looking to boost his fundraising pot for the hospital in the final few weeks before the big day, with a target of £1,500 to meet for the place with RJAH. As well as sponsorship, Dean is also looking for individuals or local businesses who may have anything suitable they would like to donate as a raffle prize. Dean has already held one successful raffle, raising over £400 during Christmas at his local, the White Lion pub.

“My family and close friends have been a great support to me. Stans Supermarket have kindly sponsored me and I’m looking for more businesses to join them. I will be printing their company logos on my t-shirt which I will be running the marathon in.”

If you would like to support Dean, visit his Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Dean-Hornsey1

If you are a business that can help Dean with sponsorship, please email deanhhornsey@gmail. com

HealtH & Wellbeing

Castor Oil’s Uses; Old and New

Castor oil, from the castor bean has had a chequered history and some bad press. It contains Ricin, a very toxic agent allegedly used by spies to finish off dangerous/unwanted characters with one drop of it injected into the skin. How terrifying! Further back, during Victorian times Castor oil was taken (by the pint) as a strong purgative to induce labour or bring about miscarriage. An unpleasant process I’m sure. For this reason, chemists have been very cautious of selling it over the counter to pregnant ladies for many years. Usually only available in tiny bottles.

Castor oil is rarely used internally these days but has some wonderful effects when safely used externally. When applied to warts, molluscum and verruca’s, it can be very effective to assist in their disappearance (much like the spies!). It’s amazing how quickly it can work. Just a small amount applied daily for up to two months. Similarly, in animals such as horses and cows with sarcoids, it can be used externally as it is a similar virus that causes it.

A castor oil pack; a flannel soaked in the oil and applied externally for 20 mins or so, can be kept in the fridge and used over and over as the oil keeps for a long time. We herbalists suggest you apply this to whichever area needs it. For example; over the liver area for a liver detox, or over the lower abdominal area for shrinking fibroids. This is not an exact science, but well worth experimenting with.

Castor oil may be helpful on suspicious moles too (not the garden ones!). Although probably not well researched enough, it seems to shrink lumps and bumps on the body.

Finally, in the beauty industry it is thought to be good to grow eye lashes longer, if applied at night: who knows what more it can do for us!

A trusty remedy to revisit with modern uses. If in doubt, consult your herbalist!