Over £18k raised for Neuro Rehab Team You are here: Home » News Detail
31st October 2016
Local man, Joe Kelliher, after suffering a stroke and having undergone extensive rehabilitation from Your Healthcare's Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team (CNRT) raises £18,154.34 on a fundraising walk in Italy for the service.
From 1 to 8 September 2015 Joe, from New Malden, joined a charity fundraising group to walk the via Francigena - from Pisa to Rome, a distance of approximately 200 miles. The main group walked this distance over two weeks. Joe joined the group with his own daily waling target of 200 metres per day. He started each leg with the team and attacked this fitness challenge in his own way.
While on the walk Joe decided the money he raised would be more meaninful if it was put towards specific machinery and equipment for the CNRT, making a direct impact on the local community, rather than a national charity.
After Joe's stroke in November 2014, he underwent regular sessions both in the community and at Cedars Unit, Tolworth Hospital. Once this had finished he carried on voluntarily attending the neuro gym's drop-in sessions. These regular rehabilitation and neuro gym sessions enabled him to participate in his amazing walk.
Joe said: "The community neuro rehab team from Your Healthcare helped me get through a very difficult time in my life. They made me persevere with rehabilitation exercises that gave me the strength and mobility to enable me to do this pilgrimage walk. I still regularly attend the neuro gym to exercise but it's also a special place where people who have gone through similar experiences can socialise too.
"This team has been my lifeline in getting me back on my feet and I wanted to thank them by giving this cheque. I want the money to be used to purchase more specialist equipment which will help others in the community like me.
"I want to encourage people and businesses to support their communities by giving money direct to local charities and ventures which will benefit us all."
Darren Beales, Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team lead said: "Joe has made significant gains since his stroke in November 2014. Although he has now been discharged from our service he continues to be active and has shown determination not to give up and continues to set his own targets to achieve. We were delighted to hear that he has been able to complete this incredible walk.
"On behalf of all the team I would like to say thank you to Joe for his generosity. This money will help us purchase specialised equipment which will benefit people with neurological conditions in the Kingston area."
James Berry MP for Kingston and Surbiton said: "Joe's achievement is simply amazing and I am delighted that the money is going to such an excellent cause. The neuro gym at Tolworth is a huge boon to those recovering from neurological injuries in Kingston."