Staff from Frimley Park Hospital, along with their supporters, are taking on the Thames Path walk on 23 June to raise money for the hospital charity’s Stroke Appeal.

Six teams are each going to walk a 30-mile section of the route, covering a total of 184 miles from the source of the Thames to the Thames Barrier. Each team has pledged to raise at least £1,000 in sponsorship for the Appeal.

In all, 34 members of staff from across the hospital, including consultants, nurses, emergency department staff, and physiotherapists are in training, along with friends and family, in the build up to the event to make sure they are fit and ready for the challenge. A total of 48 walkers will be taking part, with a further 12 people providing support along the way.

Their training programme has been devised by Thorpes Physiotherapy from Sandhurst and hospital dietitian Lauren Turner has provided dietary information and advice.

Stroke unit coordinator Tina Sargeant is one of the event organisers. She said: “This is the latest of several fundraising challenges that we have taken on for the stroke unit over the years, and it’s a big one!

“I am so proud of the commitment and effort everyone taking part is putting in. We are taking it very seriously with our training and support vehicles will be assigned to each section of the walk. And of course we will be encouraging each other along the route.

“What would be brilliant is if we could get some more corporate sponsorship to cover things like water, T-shirts, the support vehicles and medals at the end. That way more of the money we raise can go direct to the Appeal.”

The Stroke Appeal is the Frimley Health Charity’s major appeal for Frimley Park Hospital. It has been running for just over a year and thanks to fantastic community and staff fundraising support has already raised £700,000 towards its £1.1 million target.

Its aim is to extend Frimley Park’s existing stroke ward and provide additional space for a range of rehabilitation facilities and complementary therapies to help patients recover better from the debilitating effects of stroke.

The team would like to thank the current sponsors of two of the walkers’ support vehicles, London-based company Ascert, and individual sponsors Mr Peter Travers and Mr Graham Mellstrom.

If your organisation could be interested in supporting the event and would like to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Frimley Park Hospital’s fundraising manager, Keith Hanks, on 01276 604626 or email keith.hanks@nhs.net.