A determined stroke survivor from Perth walked 13 miles at Loch Leven in a bumper May fundraiser.
Over 200 people flocked to Loch Leven on May 21 to take part in the Loch Leven Walkathon to raise funds for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
An incredible £20,850 has been raised by participants who pulled on their walking boots to walk 7k, 12k or 13 miles of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail. And the final total is expected to rise as donations continue to be collected following the event.
Perth’s Nancy Barron is one person who has made a determined comeback and even helped others since she experienced a stroke in September 2021.
Nancy lives in Perth with her husband Kevin and daughter Sarah.
The stroke she experienced nearly two years ago left her with aphasia, a difficulty with words and language.
Nancy has been supported in her rehab by Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, joining CHSS’ online support group.
She has also volunteered to become part of the CHSS aphasia support network and offer her personal expertise on the materials used to help those in recovery.
She took part in the Loch Leven Walkathon with her husband last year and was back again for this year’s event in May.
Explaining why she wanted to support CHSS, she said: “Everything they (the CHSS Support Group) have done for me is brilliant.
“They have given me the tools to move on and the confidence to do it. They have been wonderful.”
Stephanie Wilks, community event and corporate fundraiser at Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to each and every person who took part in the Walkathon to raise money for us.
“It is thanks to fundraising heroes who are willing to take on a challenge that we are able to support the one in five people in Scotland living with chest, heart and stroke conditions to live their lives to the full.”
The Walkathon was originally planned to take place in March however works to improve the Loch Leven Heritage trail carried out by The Rural Access Committee for Kinross-shire (TRACKS) in conjunction with Perth and Kinross Council resulted in a change in the date for the event.
Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland supports people in Perthshire through affiliated peer support groups Perth and District Stroke Club and Perthshire Stroke Group.
The charity also runs a free Advice Line on 0808 801 0899 as well as access to Kindness Callers and Community Support Services. To find out more about Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland visit www.chss.org.uk
For anyone willing to get involved in fundraising for the charity, visit www.chss.org.uk/supportus/fundraise-for-us
