TROWBRIDGE’s Nick Blackwell will be putting his best foot forward next year to run the Bath Half Marathon to raise money for a hospital that helped him with his recovery.

The former middleweight boxer decided to run the 13.1 mile distance to thank staff at the Royal United Hospital after receiving treatment on their Helena Ward following his title defeat in March.

After suffering a bleed on the skull, the 25-year-old briefly died on his way to hospital in London where he was placed in an induced coma.

It was days later when he woke up that Nick was moved to the Helena Ward at the RUH which specialises in neurology and treats patients with complex disorders relating to the brain caused by neurological conditions or acute trauma.

Nick said: “Running the Bath Half is the least I can do after everything the RUH has done for me – the staff on Helena Ward are amazing. They’re saving lives every day. I want to raise as much money as I can as thank you for all their help.”

All the funds Nick raises will be donated through The Forever Friends Appeal at the hospital where staff were able to see the former boxer after making a full recovery.

Rosie Lloyd, senior sister on Helena Ward added: “We are incredibly grateful to Nick for choosing to fundraise in support of patient care on Helena Ward. We hope to use the funds raised by Nick’s Half Marathon run, to put towards the funding of a special outdoor therapeutic space, where patients on Helena Ward are able to relax and also carry out their therapy as part of their initial rehabilitation.”

The Forever Friends Appeal are now calling for as many people as possible to join their running team, with brave individuals being able to choose to raise funds for any ward or department at the RUH that is close to their heart, or the cancer care campaign which is fundraising towards the build of a pioneering new cancer centre at the hospital.

The popular race, located in the centre of Bath, will take place on Sunday, March 12. For more information, visit www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk.