Headway Suffolk

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Woodbridge Rotarians set marathon challenges for Headway Suffolk

Energetic and enthusiastic Rotarians from Woodbridge Rotary Club will take part in a host of fundraising activities that has never been seen before at the club.

Inspired by Captain Tom Moore, the war veteran who raised £42m for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden, at least 16 members of the club will complete a personal activity 26 times between Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July in support and to raise funds for brain injury charity Headway Suffolk.

The list of challenges include:

  • Simon Holloway, one of the youngest members at 67, is playing 26 games of Golf Croquet
  • John Pearson, former CEO of Otley College, is walking the Kyson Point to Tide Mill 26 times
  • Geoff Springett and Edward Fletcher are walking around their gardens 26 times
  • Cliff Longman is chipping a golf ball successfully into its target from 25m away
  • Ashley Meyer is reading aloud 26 scenes from Shakespeare’s plays – 4 from the Bandstand
  • President Robin Sanders is walking from Woodbridge to Felixstowe – a distance of 26 miles
  • Jeff Dunn is doing 26 keepie-uppies while walking 26 circuits of his garden
  • John White is potting 26 plants to sell
  • Keith Dowse has already completed playing 26 games of oldies double tennis
  • Sandy Hamilton is taking 26 photos around his village
  • Ron Hepworth, the oldest member at 90+ years young, is hitting 26 golf shots in his garden
  • Robin Pivett will be taking photos of street signs around Kesgrave
  • Roger Burgess will be picking up 26 pieces of litter

A full list of challenges, with quirky comments about the members, are available at woodbridgerotary.org.uk/marathon, where you can also donate by card, bank transfer or cheque.

David Crane, communications and marketing officer at Headway Suffolk, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many rotary members getting involved with fun and fitness-improving activities and enjoying the beautiful Suffolk landscape.

“We are very grateful for the support of Woodbridge Rotary Club and its members at a time when we’ve had to postpone or cancel fundraising events due to Covid-19. This is invaluable in helping us to continue our services for the local community who need our support.”

Headway Suffolk is a registered charity that provides specialist rehabilitation, therapy and support services to brain injury and stroke survivors and those with neurological conditions and their families in Suffolk.

During coronavirus, the charity has had to close its hubs and stop a lot of services, but it adapted to support even more people with homecare visits to free up hospital beds, a virtual hub so clients could stay in touch, food deliveries, virtual counselling, a helpline and Brainy Dogs videos and updates.

Eight people a day suffer a brain injury or a stroke in Suffolk, with the most prevalent caused due to a road traffic accident, assault or fall. Physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects of brain injury can have devastating consequences for individuals and their families.