Bethan Davies
Bethan's Cycle to UK Stroke Forum - Different Strokes
Fundraising for Different Strokes (Trustees) Limited
Story
At the end of November I am cycling 445km from Brighton to Liverpool to attend the 2022 UK Stroke Forum where I will be speaking about sustainable stroke care. I'm doing this to raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution and to promote ways of travelling that are better for our health and the planet.
Air pollution affects our health at every stage of our lives - as a mum, I am concerned about the impact on my kids' lungs of breathing toxic levels of air pollution on their way to and from school each day; as a stroke doctor I am increasingly aware of the long-term health impacts of air pollution exposure including on the risk of developing stroke, dementia and many other diseases.
I'm not expecting the journey to be easy as it may well be cold, dark and rainy! But i hope it will get people thinking about how we can leave behind our cars, how we can make cycling and other forms of active transport a viable and better alternative and how exercise and active lifestyles are good for both our physical and mental wellbeing but also for the planet.
I am raising money for Different Strokes, a fantastic charity that supports young stroke survivors and their families. Having looked after many people of my own age and younger who have had a stroke, I can appreciate the huge impact that it can have on 'normal' activities such as returning to work and bringing up a family. Different Strokes empowers young stroke survivors to reclaim their lives after stroke and face the challenges it brings.
If you are attending the UK Stroke Forum and want to add your contribution to road-miles saved by travelling to Liverpool by active or public transport, visit the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians website at https://biasp.org/sustainability.
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