On a 10-day trek in Africa to raise money for Bournemouth Hospital Charity’s new Jigsaw Building, Beth made friends with fellow fundraiser, 31-year-old Ryan. By the time they arrived back in Bournemouth, the two hadn’t just enjoyed an unforgettable trip – they had become inseparable.

“We became close while on the Sahara Desert Trek back in 2012,” Beth says. “After 10 days together in the desert camping under the stars, we fell in love.”

It was the beginning of a beautiful love story for the Slatterys. Beth and Ryan later married, celebrating the birth of their first child, Aimee, in 2016. And recently, their family has grown with the arrival of little baby Zac early in January.

It’s fitting that Beth and Ryan’s love would bloom while fundraising for a hospital that means a lot to both of their families.

“My mum’s a nurse in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s Derwent Building and Ryan’s mum is a health care assistant,” explains Beth. ”They’ve both been here 20 years so this hospital is a big part of their lives.”

Having helped to raise thousands of pounds for the Jigsaw Building through such adventurous means, Beth urges anyone thinking about taking on a challenge this year to consider doing it for their hospital.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Beth says.

“It was a life-changing experience just actually doing the trek. I got a lot of time to reflect and think about what’s important in life, camping out under the stars and meeting new people. It’s a chance to experience something completely different.”

Bournemouth Hospital Charity has a range of exciting challenges for the public to take on in 2018.