Colleagues from the library and knowledge service at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust have been cycling, rowing, swimming, and walking to raise money for the hospital charity, Love Musgrove.

Setting out to complete the total distance between the library at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, all the way to the site of the Ancient Library of Alexandria – now occupied by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Organisers chose to cover the 4,800km distance virtually after agreeing that the Ancient Library of Alexandria is a librarians Holy Grail.

Veronica Price, the NHS trust’s clinical outreach librarian who took part in the challenge said: “We chose the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as it is the closest site to one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world and holds a special place in the hearts of all librarians.”

The team began the project in January; tracking each kilometre completed whether through swimming or walking, and plotted their virtual journey across the world to complete 4,800km in seven months.

The team raised just over £500 for Love Musgrove, which will go towards the purchase of iPads for the library to loan out to patients at the hospital who may not otherwise have access to a smart device.

“We’ve been working closely with our colleagues at Somerset’s public libraries, who have shown us the value of having freely accessible resources. Things such as audiobooks and e-books, have a very positive effect on the wellbeing of patients who are hospitalised or recuperating.

“I’m so proud of the entire team and their dedication to complete our goal. We would like to thank friends and family who supported our efforts and to wish everyone else fundraising for Love Musgrove much success and enjoyment with their activities.”Veronica added.

This year the Love Musgrove charity is celebrating its 25th  anniversary and is inviting people to think about how they could get involved in fundraising. Since it began in 1997, Love Musgrove has raised over £20 million to support the NHS in Somerset.

Barbara Gregory, chair of Love Musgrove, said:

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the Love Musgrove charity over the last 25 years; with your support, we have been able to make a huge impact across the NHS in Somerset.

“It’s really exciting to see the wide range of projects that people’s donations will support this year as part of our 25th anniversary appeal and the direct impact this will have on our patients, their families and our colleagues.”

If you’d like to get involved in the Love Musgrove 25th anniversary appeal, contact the team on 01823 344437, [email protected], or visit https://www.lovemusgrove.org.uk/anniversary-appeal/