In the U.K. there are more than 1 million people living with the devastating effects of stroke, many being severely disabled. Although stroke care has improved considerably and is now saving many more lives than in the past, better solutions are still needed in rehabilitation to improve lives after stroke. The quality of life for stroke survivors and their families is far from satisfactory and the Ossie Newell Foundation has been set up specifically with this in mind. The Foundation aims to fund research into the rehabilitation post stroke to improve the lives of stroke survivors and the lives of their families.

Most people we talk to will either have a member of their own family who has suffered a stroke, or know someone else that has!  This is true for me, as my father suffered a stroke in 1999 and has since gone on to create the Ossie Newell Foundation. Having had direct experience of the problems and difficulties involved by the life changing effects of stroke in my own family, I am keen to see improvements in the quality of life post stroke through better rehabilitation for stroke survivors generated by new research.

As a result, I have become a Fund-raiser and a Trustee of the Ossie Newell Foundation. I feel that no matter how much effort is required to prepare for the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon, and no matter how painful, demanding and difficult this will be, the funds raised will go to this excellent and worthwhile cause in funding one PhD student per year to research stroke and stroke rehabilitation at the University of Nottingham to improve the lives of stroke survivors.

The fund-raising events that have taken place for the Foundation since the launch in 2016 have received excellent support from our donors and supporters, for which we are most grateful. Nevertheless, our fund-raising continues to raise the £60,000.00 necessary to fund one PhD student, and so we need your support to help us achieve this aim. Please help us to accomplish this by sponsoring me and Simeon to complete the Half Marathon! Your generosity and support will not only help to improve the life of stroke survivors, but will certainly help motivate us to keep running at the last mile.