Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hospital staff’s 100km walk for stroke victims
HELPING OTHERS
A team of physiotherapists at the William Harvey Hospital completed a 100km walk and raised £4,000 for stroke survivors.
Four colleagues who work in the hospital’s physiotherapy department took part in the London to Brighton trek to raise much-needed funds for the Stroke Association.
Helen Cooke, Emma Matthews, Ann Mcgovern and Michelle Warren said they see first-hand the massive impact a stroke can have on people’s lives and just felt they wanted to do something,
Helen, Ann and Michelle work in the physiotherapy team, while Jane is an occupational therapy technician in the stroke unit.
Ann said: “Most of us have worked in the stroke unit for a long time. We know that heart attacks are the biggest killer but a stroke leaves you with the biggest disability.
“Our jobs are to help the stroke survivors get back to some sort of normality as soon as possible, rehab them and try to get them walking again.
“Unfortunately, Helen had to drop out at 56k due to really bad blisters. The three of us then went onto finish the trek in 27 hours. We all feel very proud and are especially grateful for our support drivers.
“Michelle would love to do it again but not too soon, as there are still lots of blisters between us all and a few toe nails lost!”
Ann’s mum had a mini stroke and Helen’s grandad had a stroke last year, so the cause is extremely close to their hearts.
A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain.
There are around 4,000 strokes in Kent every year and is the leading cause of severe adult disability.
There’s still time to donate to the team’s efforts, visit www. justgiving.com/HOTFIZZ1.