Len Richards

When he was CEO of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS FT, Len believed he should set an example to his staff, family and local community by becoming fitter himself. He has lost three stone in the past seven years through exercise in a bid to get fit. For the past two years he has undertaken a series of tough physical challenges eg Mersey Tunnel Run and the 3 Peaks Challenge, to raise funds for the charity for mothers and babies in Uganda, which he co-founded with NHS colleagues (www.improvingchances.org). At the trust Len pioneered Fitter for Health inspired by London 2012 aimed at encouraging and supporting NHS staff to take part in regular sport or physical activity. The campaign was launched on July 24 during Olympic Open Weekend with an event comprising over 30 sporting and leisure activities a 2012m track was marked out and will be a lasting legacy.