Hospital Staff’s Captain Tom Challenge Raises Stroke Awareness and £2,500 for Charity

Staff from the Acute Stroke Unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital have raised more than £2,500 for UHNM Charity by completing their Captain Tom 100 Challenge.

The Stroke team from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) set themselves individual challenges based around the number 100 and completed them over the summer.

Money raised from the challenge will be spent improving patient care and experience on the Stroke Unit at UHNM and the local health economy.

Dr Indira Natarajan, Consultant and Clinical Director for Stroke said: “We wanted to raise the profile of the Stroke Unit while doing something for the benefit of stroke patients in our area. We decided that the Captain Tom 100 Challenge was a good opportunity to do this and set ourselves a variety of challenges from runs and dog walks to cycling and acts of kindness.”

“As well as raising funds that will benefit patients on the Unit, we wanted to use this as an opportunity to send a message to the local community that stroke is life-changing, not only for the individual but also for the family. We’re seeing more and more patients under the age 55, particularly male, that are having strokes with catastrophic outcomes. We urge anybody with symptoms of stroke, which include face weakness, arm weakness and problems with speech/ vision- to call 999 immediately. The earlier the call the better the outcome and we’re here ready to treat you.”      

Set up by the Captain Tom Foundation to celebrate the fundraiser’s life, the Captain Tom 100 Challenge encouraged people from across the country to create their own challenge themed around the number 100.    

Hayley Denic, Therapy Technician who organised the challenge, said: “We had a fantastic response to the challenge on the Unit with everybody from consultants to dieticians and speech and language therapists taking part. Everyone did a great job running, walking or cycling 100 miles in a month, but we’re especially proud of Dr Natarajan, a keen long-distance runner, for clocking up 91.5 miles in just 24 hours at an event at Catton Park and also running 100 miles in six days as part of the challenge.”

Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and Charity at UHNM added: “UHNM Charity was really excited to launch this challenge in partnership with the Captain Tom Foundation and we’re thrilled so many of our supporters, local people and staff got involved. Captain Tom already had a legacy here at UHNM and it’s thanks to our incredible fundraisers that it is further enhanced.”  

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