Wellingtonians run for the Stroke Foundation

The Stroke Foundation has recruited a team of 32 to participate at this year’s Wellington Brendan Foot Supersite Round the Bays on Sunday 16 February, to raise funds to support the Foundation’s critical services.

The team, made up of local Wellingtonians, includes Stroke Foundation employees, DHB and health professional supporters and stroke survivors.

The team is aiming to raise $15,000 which will go towards providing the lower North Island with a new Big Blood Pressure Check Van.

In 2018, the Stroke Foundation launched the first Big Blood Pressure Check Van which travelled the country offering free blood pressure checks. From October 2018 to June 2019, 10,490 New Zealanders were tested in the van. Of those, 44% had a high blood pressure reading, with 136 referred for immediate medical attention – these checks may have saved hundreds of lives.

Robbie Ross, National Fundraising Manager at the Stroke Foundation said: “We want to make this lifesaving service available all year round to all New Zealanders. We aim to do this by extending our fleet to three vans, including one which will be based in Wellington servicing the lower North Island.

“We’re so pleased that we have been able to get a team together to not only raise important funds but help us to raise awareness of stroke. We’d like to extend our thanks to all those that are participating and have donated so far; you’re helping to make an incredible difference.”

A person with high blood pressure is up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than someone with normal or low blood pressure. One in five New Zealanders have high blood pressure and about a third of these fellow Kiwis don’t know it. As high blood pressure doesn’t usually have any symptoms, the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get tested. The new van will mean that more people than ever before will be able to get their blood pressure checked for free and better understand the risks associated with stroke.

With your help, together we will fight stroke! Support the Stroke Foundation and donate to the team page here: https://wellingtonroundthebays.everydayhero.com/nz/team-stroke-foundation