March On : More than a Fundraiser

In 2021, we launched March On, a month-long fundraising challenge during the month of March. We hoped it was a simple way for participants to improve their fitness, achieve personal goals and raise vital funds to help Different Strokes support younger stroke survivors. It was important to us that the challenge was inclusive and now in its second year, we have been overwhelmed with the response.

March On 2022 has now come to a close and we have so many people to celebrate and thank for their heroic efforts. It has been really emotional for us as a team reading and watching people achieve their goals whilst supporting Different Strokes.

Over £12,000 was raised and this money directly funds our services; from someone being on the end of the line when you call, to free information being sent to the homes of those new to this world of stroke. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, donated or supported those taking part.

What we have realised is that March On has become about so much more than fundraising. It has become about determination, survivors and their families challenging themselves in tough circumstances because they want to help others!

Here are just some examples of what was achieved by the team:

Chloe Mayhew walked/ran 7km every day, each km representing the 7 hours between her partner dialing 999 and the diagnosis of her stroke.
Naomi Taylor ran 10km after 18 months of building herself up to achieve it, following her stroke in 2020.
Shazia Fletcher challenged herself and walked an incredible 300,000 steps during March. Despite having to pace herself because of the fatigue issues she battles with following her stroke.
Louise Shephard attempted to walk 10,000 steps a day on as many days as possible In March, whilst working on her stroke recovery. She said:
“I feel mentally and physically stronger because of doing this challenge and it has kept me focused and motivated as I continue to recover.”
Paul had a stroke in 2014 aged 35. During March On he challenged himself to complete 15 Different Strokes wheelchair exercise classes, and his wife Laura and sister-in-law Nat walked an incredible 50 miles each! He said:
“Having a stroke is rubbish, and I should know, I had one in 2014 at the age of 35, and I’ve had to use a wheelchair since because I lost the use of my left arm and leg. I’m far from alone, every year 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke. A quarter of these are aged under the age of 65, like me.”

Laura Jones made her way around Hollingsworth lake in Rochdale (3.2miles) despite challenges with her mobility.
Cally Davis took on the challenge of walking 400,000 steps. Following her stroke in July 2020, aged 35, Cally lives with visual impairment, fatigue and balance, and vertigo issues. She used the treadmill to achieve this amazing feat!
Naomi Chastain, walked a mile every day in March despite this being extremely challenging for her due to the effects of her stroke in March 2020.
Alex Chessman Tait set out to walk 6,000 steps a day – despite struggling with drop foot and issues with her non-affected foot too! She said:

“I had a stroke in 2020 during a global pandemic I didn’t see any of my family for 6 weeks. Different Strokes gave me support and information and books to send to my children to explain what had happened.

After 6 weeks of being home, my mental health took a huge nosedive and I felt like no one understood. Then I found the online support group and there I found survivors like myself. All being members of a club no one wants to be in. All dealing with the same thing yet, it is so different for each one of us.

The stroke changed me forever and Different Strokes help me grieve and process the loss of the old me and accept the new me. And some days it’s still hard but they are always there for us. An amazing small charity helping so many lives in the UK.”
Anna Langton took on the challenge of cycling 310 km on a static bike, saying:
“I’m 10 years post-stroke. That’s 10 years of ongoing rehab, ongoing recovery, and ongoing determination. My stroke has left me with dense left-side weakness. A good source of rehab activity is my local gym, where this year for my March On Challenge, I’m cycling on the static bike. My aim is to cycle 310km during March.”

A HUGE thanks go to the rest of the team who took part – Amy Lloyd, Helen White, Alice Burnell, Morgan Swan, Lucy Mount, Emma Slinn, Sandra & Peter Ross, Menna Jones, Pat Butterworth, Sian Mara, Bernadette Cawthorne, Daniel Baynes, and friends.

Jo Aurora, Fundraising Manager said:

“I’m really proud of all our March On participants who set themselves some fantastic goals. There have been some very soggy and cold days for those who ventured out!

The beauty of March On is that it is fully accessible and aims to meet people where they are in recovery or fitness. It has been a joy to see this working in action and how very personal the goals have been. I hope these challenges have boosted confidence as well as fitness levels and that everyone who took part is as proud of themselves, as we are.”