Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Charity is delighted to announce Olympic gold-winning heptathlete, Dame Denise Lewis as its newest Patron.
Born in West Bromwich, raised in Wolverhampton and member of the Birchfield Harriers Club in Birmingham, Dame Denise is a proud Midlander through and through. She has won numerous medals throughout her career, including silver at the World Championships and becoming Commonwealth and European Champion. She picked up a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, before reaching the pinnacle of her career when she won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She was awarded a damehood in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list for her services to sport and is currently serving as President of UK Athletics.
As Patron, Dame Denise will help to shine a spotlight on the two hospitals and the incredible work staff do to improve the lives of the women, children and families they care for – regionally, nationally and internationally. By raising awareness of the charity, she will help it secure the much-needed funds it requires to provide the best treatment and care possible, helping to transform the lives of its patients.
Plus, with more than 10 per cent of the charity’s annual income raised by ‘eventers’ –who take on challenges, including 10k races, marathons and treks – Dame Denise’s affiliation with the sporting world makes her a natural fit with the charity, likely inspiring the public to participate in more of these events.
Mark Brider, CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re truly honoured to welcome Dame Denise as our newest Patron. She’s been a proud representative of the Midlands for her whole career and is the perfect fit with our organisation, thanks to her passion for women’s and children’s health, as well as her dedication towards developing opportunities for the youth of today.
“Dame Denise is someone who has won the highest accolades available in her sport, constantly striving to push herself and be the best there is. We share this ambition with her – always wanting to do more for our patients and continually pushing boundaries in terms of treatment, care and world-leading research. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
Dame Denise said: “I’m so honoured to accept this Patronage. I’ve had the privilege of visiting the hospitals, meeting with staff and learning about their incredible work, as well as hearing from patients and families about their experiences and what makes it such a special place. It’s always truly inspiring.
“Having been raised locally, I can say with confidence, the hospitals are somewhere the whole region should be proud of because of the difference they make to so many babies, children and families. I can’t wait to give back and showcase everything they and the charity do, so we can raise the vital funds needed to continue groundbreaking treatment and care.”
The announcement of Dame Denise as the newest Patron, comes just months after Brummie presenter Emma Willis was also announced as Patron. They both join Ben Francis, CEO and Founder of apparel-brand Gymshark, as the hospitals and charity’s second and third Patron.
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its kind in the UK, expertly delivering family-centred care through Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital. Collectively the two hospitals care for over 140,000 women, children, young people and their families from across the region and the UK each year.
Birmingham Women’s Hospital is one of only two dedicated women’s hospitals in the UK and boasts the busiest single site maternity unit, birthing approximately 8,200 babies a year. It also cares for around 900 of the region’s poorliest babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit every year.
Birmingham Children’s Hospital is one of the UK’s leading specialist paediatric centres offering expert care to 100,000 children and young people from across the country every year. It is also home the largest single site paediatric intensive care unit in Europe.
For further information on Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust visit bwc.nhs.uk.
For more on its charities please visit bch.org.uk for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and bwh.org.uk for Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity.