Brand new sports shoes, a high heart rate and a lot of sweating. Employees of the Bethesda hospital in Hoogeveen of Treant Zorggroep are running to Emmen today to raise money for the Emergency Medicine Research Fund.
“That is a fund that researches emergency care (ED) and how things can be improved,” says Luuk Tomson. He is Head of Emergency Department at the Scheper Hospital in Emmen. “We do this every year to bring in some extra finance.”
The group therefore has to work today, because the distance to Emmen is considerable. The runners take turns to get to the finish line fresh. “It is a kind of relay format. Everyone does a number of kilometers, some just a little more than others”, laughs colleague Aruna Rikkers. “A car comes along to receive the people again.”
They do not use a traditional baton, a small plaster hand is passed on to each other during the change. “Typical for the emergency room, I think,” continues Rikkers. “The last bit we run together to the finish.”
Not only the hospital staff from Hoogeveen walk to Emmen, colleagues from Stadskanaal also participate. “There is no other hospital in the area. So we have agreed that the posts from Hoogeveen and Stadskanaal will run to Emmen together. It is therefore great that you all arrive together.”
Rikkers especially likes doing something else besides working together. “A day of walking ensures that you get to know each other better. A bit of team building is never wrong.”
The runners collected about 3,000 euros. The amount should stimulate research in the field of emergency medicine, because there is certainly room for improvement, Tomson says. “Professional content, for example, but also the throughput and intake of personnel in the A&E. Our workplace naturally has enough problems.”