FOR a third year running, Mordialloc’s Dan Maitland will lead a group in the Stride4Stroke fun run.
The run is a personal one for Maitland. His sister Bec survived a stroke in 2016, one she suffered aged just 28.
Maitland said that seeing his sister have a stroke was “incredibly life changing for all of us”.
“To see her fighting for her life and her whole life flipped upside down – career, relationship, everything – was massive,” he said. “The biggest reason why we wanted to do this was to support Bec and spread awareness by showing others how stroke can be prevented and how to recognise a stroke. We want people to know to get their blood pressure checked and learn the F.A.S.T acronym. We also want to show other survivors that there is support out there for them, and how we can create better empathy towards people who have had a stroke.”
Maitland’s Training With Mates team has raised a whopping $21,000 this year for the Stroke Foundation.
F.A.S.T. helps people identify stroke symptoms. F stands for facial drooping, A is for arm weakness, S is for speech difficulty, and T is for time – stressing the importance of acting quickly.
Runners are encouraged to don flashy colours while completing the run this Saturday, 26 November. Runners will start from multiple points on Beach Road.
To donate visit stride4stroke.org.au/fundraisers/TWMSTRIDE4STROKE2022/stride-4-stroke
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 23 November 2022