THE Mayor of Kidderminster is stepping out this weekend as part of her bid to fund new equipment for the physiotherapy department at the town’s hospital.

Mary Rayner has organised a canalside ramble from Kidderminster to Stourport on Sunday (September 25) and is calling for the public to join her on the towpath.

It signals the start of her fund-raising activities to buy rowing and cross trainer apparatus for the hospital gym to aid the rehabilitation of patients.

Kidderminster Hospital League of Friends is one of her charities for her mayoral year and she hopes to raise the £1,500 the group needs to purchase the equipment.

She said: “The League funds lots of services and equipment that the NHS no longer provides and this physiotherapy equipment will be important for a wide range of Wyre Forest people, young or old, who need rehabilitation.

“I want my mayoral fund-raising to benefit people from across the generations and this equipment will be vital for a large cross section of our community.”

The hospital gym’s rehabilitation work involves up to 100 patients a week, ranging from marathon runners and rugby players to the elderly recovering from medical conditions.

Anyone wishing to take part in Sunday’s ramble should meet at Kidderminster Town Hall at 1pm.

The Mayor added: “We hope people will come along and enjoy a lovely walk, and it would be even better if they could obtain some sponsorship or make a donation to help us buy this equipment.”

•The League of Friends is currently looking for volunteers to help out in its hospital coffee shop and charity shops in Kidderminster and Stourport. Call administrator Natalie Mason on 01562 67653 for more details.