Vertu Motors

Ben Moorhouse has completed his most demanding UK Extreme Challenge yet, to raise money for The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation.

He completed a non-stop walk of 180 miles, starting from the Tommy’s Research Centre at St Thomas’s Hospital in London, and ending at the Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic and Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester.

Ben, who was gifted a support vehicle for the walk by Bristol Street Motors Halifax Nissan, completed the gruelling event in 55 hours and raised over £4,293, as it currently stands.

In October 2018, Ben’s daughter Kallipateira was stillborn at 38 weeks. He and his partner Gaynor Thompson experienced a miscarriage less than a year later. They then launched their charity, The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation, to help save babies’ lives through research, and to support other parents who have gone through the death of a baby.

Ben and Gaynor turned to Professor Alexander Heazell from the Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic and Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester; in May 2020, Gaynor gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Professor Heazell and his team are the main beneficiaries of The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation.

Ben Moorhouse said: “Dads are sadly forgotten about by most of society when it comes to the death of a baby. Not a day goes by where I don’t cry for my daughter. Everyone grieves differently and I channel my grief and pain by taking on extreme challenge walks.

“If I didn’t do what I do for my daughter and to help others in the process, it would have been so easy to go down a different path. Every step I make is through the love of my daughter Kallipateira.

“Many stillbirths in the UK are preventable and by supporting research, we can help save may babies’ lives. People have done this walk before over a week or so, with hotel stops along the way. I decided to do this in one go, with no sleep, so it was challenging for me and my support team.

“In recent months, we have all seen upsetting news reported on deaths of babies, many of which could have been prevented, and more recently the sad news of well-known celebrities experiencing the death of a baby. I would like to ask the media and public to please support me in my quest to raise as much as possible to help save babies’ lives nationally.

“A special thanks to Bristol Street Motors Halifax Nissan, for the support vehicle.”

Professor Alexander Heazell, Director of the Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre, said:

“The team at the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre are so grateful to Ben and Gaynor for their donations, to support our work, to reduce the number of babies dying and to improve care for parents.

“We are in awe of what Ben puts himself through to raise money, in memory of Kallipateira, so that other babies are born healthy and well.”

Jamie Priestley, General Manager at Bristol Street Motors Halifax Nissan, said: “We have helped Ben and Gaynor with a support vehicle previously, when he undertook a coast to coast walk from Morecambe to Bridlington.

“We were delighted to get involved again, as they are very near neighbours to the dealership, and it is such a fantastic charity. Many congratulations to Ben and his team on completing this latest UK Extreme Challenge!”

If you’d like to learn more about Ben and Gaynor’s story, or donate to their cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester2022

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF VERTU MOTORS

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to Editors

Vertu Motors plc is the fifth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 160 sales outlets across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu Motors and Macklin Motors brand names.

Vertu Motors plc was established in November 2006 with the strategy to consolidate the UK motor retail sector. It is intended that the Group will continue to acquire motor retail operations to grow a scaled dealership group. The Group’s acquisition strategy is supplemented by a focused organic growth strategy to drive operational efficiencies through its national dealership network. The Group currently operates 156 franchised sales outlets and 4 non-franchised sales operations from 120 locations across the UK.

Vertu’s Mission Statement is to “deliver an outstanding customer motoring experience through honesty and trust”.

Vertu Motors Group websites – investors.vertumotors.com / www.vertucareers.com
Vertu brand websites – www.vertumotors.com / www.bristolstreet.co.uk / www.macklinmotors.co.uk / www.vertumotorcycles.com / www.vansdirect.co.uk / www.thetaxicentre.com / www.powerbulbs.com