A REDDITCH-based charity which supports nursing staff across the West Midlands is urging people to get on their marks for the Great Midlands Fun Run.

Cavell Nurses’ Trust is the UK’s leading benevolent fund for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, providing financial help, advice and support to those in crisis. In the last 12 months alone it has helped 32 nursing professionals across the West Midlands.

This year it is one of the featured charities for the region's premier fun run and is urging people to come forward and raise funds.

Trust spokesman Jasmin Rana said: “The Great Midlands Fun Run is a fantastic opportunity for people to help us as we head towards our centenary year in 2015.

“We are dedicated to helping all those nurses, midwives, and HCAs (healthcare assistants), whether working or retired who need our help.

"Demand for our services is growing – working and retired nursing staff need to look after their own well-being as well as that of others, which is where we come in.

“There are many reasons why nursing staff find themselves in financial difficulty, from ill health, disability or even domestic abuse, and it can leave them isolated with nowhere to go for support and advice.

“We’re looking for anyone who values our nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants to support us on June 1. Staff from the charity will be at the event on the day so please drop by and say hello – we’d love to meet you.”

The charity was established through overwhelming public support following the execution of First World War nurse Edith Cavell in 1915.

Its centenary appeal aims to double the number of people it supports from 1,000 to 2,000 and the target is £3 million by October 2015.

The appeal, which has HRH The Princess Royal as its president, will see a number of key events being held over the next 18 months, including a 3,363ft climb up Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper, Canada, in August 2015.

To support Cavell Nurses’ Trust sign up for the Great Midlands Fun run online at greatmidlandsfunrun.com

For further information on the work of the trust, see cavellnursestrust.org.