Great Britain Water Skier From Oundle is Commemorated Following Death From Sepsis
Wendy Gooding, in Oundle, is once again bringing her community together for Run, Ride & Raffle for Guy, an annual fundraising event held in memory of her late husband Guy Gooding to raise awareness and funds for the UK Sepsis Trust.
Guy, former Great Britain water skier and company director, tragically died from sepsis in January 2017 at 58 after a short three-day illness. Known for his fitness, enthusiasm and zest for life, Guy was out cycling more than 100 miles, running and attending the gym in the week before he fell ill. Despite being taken to hospital by ambulance after feeling unwell, Guy died just days later.
Wendy and Guy lived in Oundle for more than 30 years. He was a devoted husband, brother and uncle who spent many evenings and weekends travelling across the country to support his nieces and nephews in their sporting pursuits.
In the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour. It is a life-threatening condition which arises when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It affects 245,000 people in the UK annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Since Guy’s death, Wendy has devoted herself to raising awareness of sepsis. Each year she organises Run and Ride for Guy in his honour, and during the Covid-19 pandemic she sewed for local scrub hubs and made and sold face coverings to raise money for the UK Sepsis Trust. Her efforts have so far raised over £19,900 to support the charity’s life-saving work.
This year’s Run, Ride & Raffle for Guy will take place on Sunday 19 October 2025 in Oundle. Participants are invited to run or ride as many laps as they can of a 10-mile course, before enjoying burgers, sausages, beers and cakes thereafter. The proceeds from the event will to UK Sepsis Trust. Further donations can be made on the day or online via Just Giving.
Wendy Gooding said: “We lost Guy far too soon. This is a very special event for friends and family to come together to remember Guy at an event he would have loved to be in attendance at. I also hope that this raises awareness of sepsis to others, helping to save future lives.”
Sepsis always starts with an infection, such as chest infections or UTIs, but it’s unknown why some people develop sepsis in response to these common infections whereas others do not.
UKST has recently called attention to the many sepsis cases in which outcomes could have been improved or lives could have been saved. It’s more important than ever that members of the public feel empowered to act as advocates when their loved ones are unwell, and that healthcare professionals take them seriously
Sepsis is as common as heart attacks in the UK: nearly 80,000 people each year suffer life-changing after-effects in the UK, with 82% of sepsis survivors experiencing ‘Post-Sepsis Syndrome’ more than a year after hospital discharge, and 18% left permanently unable to work.
The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST), founded in 2012 by NHS consultant Dr Ron Daniels BEM, aims to end preventable deaths and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors, striving to raise public awareness and working to support anyone affected by this devastating condition. UKST educates healthcare professionals; raises public awareness levels and lobbies for political change. The charity’s team of trained Support Nurses help people through sepsis recovery and bereavement. UKST aims to protect people by enabling the prevention of severe infection and the treatment of sepsis, whilst also helping to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly.
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “We are incredibly moved by Wendy’s dedication and commitment. Her efforts in honouring Guy’s memory and raising awareness of sepsis are truly inspiring. We extend our heartfelt thanks for her support and acknowledge the incredible activities she is undertaking. Wendy’s support will allow us to continue our vital work, helping our health service save lives and improve outcomes for the thousands of people affected by this condition every year.”
Sepsis presents very differently in each patient, and can be challenging to identify. There are, however, six key symptoms you can look for, and they spell the word sepsis: S for slurred speech or confusion, E for extreme pain in the muscles or joints, P for passing no urine in a day, S for severe breathlessness and I for “it feels like I’m going to die”. The final S is for skin that’s mottled, discoloured or very pale. If you spot any one of those six signs in the context of infection, you should go straight to A&E. UKST’s Sepsis Savvy resources provide the knowledge required to seek urgent treatment at the right time
The UK Sepsis Trust is calling for:
A commitment from health ministers on the development and implementation of a ‘sepsis pathway’ – a standardised treatment plan that ensures patients receive the right care from the point at which they present their symptoms to a clinician through to receiving their diagnosis.
The introduction of consistent public reporting from NHS Trusts on the numbers of sepsis cases and their outcomes.
The continued improvement of public awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis.
