Hundreds of walkers and runners are putting in the final preparations and last-minute training sessions this week, ahead of one of the biggest events that raises funds for Stroke Foundation’s calendar.
For the fourth year, local Mordialloc team, Training With Mates, will this Saturday take over Kingston and Bayside areas to raise money for the Foundation as part of its annual fitness and fundraising campaign, Stride4Stroke, which encourages people to get moving to reduce their stroke risk.
Event organiser and Mordialloc business owner, Dan Maitland-Smith, decided to put a team together after his sister, Bec, had a stroke in 2016 at the age of 28. The team has already raised more than $30,000 but Dan says, just as importantly, it’s raising awareness of stroke.
“I wanted to do something to support my sister and encourage people to get active to reduce their risk of having a stroke and to help prevent them from going through what Bec went through. A lot of people think stroke only affects older Australians but it can happen to anyone at any age.”
Hundreds of runners are expected to tie up their laces and either run or walk their choice of a 4km, 7km,14km,21km or 28km course.
” It’s great to see so many people already keen to sign up to the challenge and unite for such a great cause as well as using this as a way of keeping fit,” Dan said.
Eighty per cent of strokes are preventable which is why Stroke Foundation is encouraging Australians to get moving.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says Stride4Stroke is a great way to get the ball rolling on a more active lifestyle.
“One million strokes a year globally are linked to physical inactivity. This means too many lives are being impacted by stroke unnecessarily, and research tells us just 30 minutes of exercise five times a week can reduce your stroke risk by 25 per cent.”
Stride4Stroke participants can choose any activity to undertake as part of the month-long campaign including walking, running, cycling, dancing or swimming.
“We all have different abilities, passions and lifestyles, how you get active will look different for everyone, that’s the benefit of Stride4Stroke, there are no limits to what you can do,” Dr Murphy said.
Money raised with every step, run, swimming stroke or weight lifted by participants will go towards supporting survivors of stroke and preventing stroke.
“Every dollar raised helps us get one step closer to preventing more strokes, saving lives and enhancing recovery for more Australians,” Dr Murphy said.
