The first ever Siemens ‘Stroke for Stroke’ week has proved to be a resounding success with over £35,000 raised for The Stroke Association so far and more sponsorship still coming in.
Hundreds of people around the UK dusted off their gym kits and rowed their hearts out during the first week of December to raise awareness of strokes, the third biggest killer in the UK, and to promote the benefit of regular exercise in stroke prevention.
The inaugural Stroke for Stroke campaign was bursting with highlights after it launched in October as double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell completed the first leg of our epic journey.
Bath University rowing team’s record breaking 200km row in the pouring rain in Bath city centre set the stage for the Stroke for Stroke week. Rotating every 15 strokes, team one, consisting of ten members, set a BUSA record for 100km in a time of 4hrs 59min 17seconds. A second team of over 25 members completed a further 100km dividing the distance between them in front of crowds of Christmas shoppers who got into the spirit and cheered both teams on. A fantastic effort on the day by the crews and the volunteers resulted in over £680 being raised.
HMS Victory in Portsmouth provided the perfect setting for two gruelling solo marathon rows. Lieutenant Amanda Heal and Lieutenant Kevin Anderson both of the Royal Navy braved the freezing conditions and completed 50km and 100km rows respectively. Gathering crowds witnessed the heroic rows, which held a special significance to Amanda whose father suffered a stroke in September 2007. A colossal effort from both rowers resulted in over £1,500 being raised to help fund The Stroke Association’s vital work.
An epic 24 hour solo row in Scarborough became the next major highlight of the week… Graphic designer James Rush and gym instructor Melanie Williams, both from Scarborough, rowed for an astonishing 24hrs and 12hrs respectively in their gym. In a row which pushed them both to the very limits of physical and metal exhaustion, James managed to fight off the blisters and a very sore bottom to complete an amazing 204.5km in 24hrs with Mel finishing the 12hrs having completed a fantastic 103km.
An amazing week of both individual and collective achievements was rounded off in style as Greg Baynham, a stroke survivor from Poole, braved the fearsome winter seas to row around the Island of Brownsea. Having suffered a stroke just two years ago, Greg was determined to complete this daring row with his brother-in-law to help other stroke sufferers. In freezing conditions the pair donned their wet suits and set off around the island. Just an hour and a half later the duo returned home with freezing fingers and toes having collectively raised over £675.
Hundreds of enthusiastic Siemens employees also got to grips with their ergos during the week as they completed their crucial individual distances. Walking the talk was the chief executive Tom White who did his 10km to contribute to the campaign and a special congratulations go out to Carol Morris who finished the week as the top Siemens employee fundraiser gaining an impressive £960 for her 30km row. Carol receives a prize of two tickets to the Royal Regatta at Henley in 2008.
Siemens and The Stroke Association would like to offer their thanks and congratulations to everybody that took part in this amazing week. Your hard work, dedication and generosity has been instrumental in making this fantastic campaign a rowing success.