I am an outgoing, adventurous & energetic Kiwi woman, presently travelling the world, but my main focus is on helping people in need along the way.

In August 2013 I met Joan Dupey and her husband & carer Rob. Joan had suffered a serious Haemorrhagic Stroke 7 months earlier. losing the use of the whole left side of her body and her left visual field. I began helping Rob with Joan's rehabilitation but we knew that Joan needed more professional help.  

We first learned of Reach for Health from the the ARNI (Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) which puts stroke survivors in touch with specifically trained physiotherapists.  Wadge, who leads the team at Reach for Health, firstly provided weekly home visits to Joan, who was at that time wheel-chair bound, somewhat limp and lacking a sense of balance. In May 2016 I took on the role of Joan's Personal Assistant, accepting the challenge of Operation - "Let's get Joan on her feet again and move her rehabilitation forward at a much faster pace". Wadge taught me techniques at his weekly visits that I used daily with Joan at home and we've never looked back! 

After a while Wadge suggested that Joan was well enough to have her weekly sessions at the Reach for Health centre in Daventry. Reach for Health is a specialised centre focused on helping people rehabilitate following traumatic health events or living with chronic life-long illness. 

I have been attending the centre with Joan for six months and am astounded at the expertise, skill and knowledge of all the staff  in rehabilitating Joan, who - with guidance - can now walk with a stick. I have also witnessed first hand the amazing progress of other people attending the centre. This great team of physiotherapists and coaches do so much positive life-changing work to help people in desperate need, yet Reach for Health is not funded in any way by the NHS or any other government body. It runs solely as a Charity.

There is a huge demand for this type of facility to help the large number of people, like Joan, burdened by traumatic health-events. A positive, friendly, helpful, caring and inviting atmosphere awaits whoever walks through its doors.

It is my wish to raise funds to support Reach for Health by running the 2017 London Marathon to help keep it well equipped and staffed by specially trained therapists so it can help even more people less fortunate than ourselves to regain their independence.

Please open your heart and help me to support this wonderful, caring organisation that makes such a positive difference in peoples lives.  

I thank you, in anticipation, as I continue to be rewarded and very proud of Joan's continued successful rehabilitation through the Reach for Health rehabilitation centre.

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