Winchester writer tackles daunting double to support Stroke Association

A 60-year-old Winchester man is attempting a unique double challenge on land and sea to raise money for the Stroke Association.

Mark Ryan will attempt to swim from the mainland to the Isle of Wight.

Then after a day's rest he will hike the 26 miles between Salisbury and Winchester along the Clarendon Way.

It would be a formidable fundraising challenge even for someone still in their physical prime.

But Mark, a freelance writer, believes it is possible at his age with the right sort of motivation. And he isn't short of that commodity.

Mark has seen for himself the devastation strokes can cause and wants to do his bit to help the charity fund research into preventing and treating the effects of stroke.

He explained: 'When I was much younger, I moved in to help a neighbour who had seen his life turned upside down by a stroke. His wife had left him as a result of his misfortune because she couldn't face the caring role, and he could no longer speak. This was someone who had been the life and soul of the party a few weeks earlier. I never forgot that.

'More recently, I have seen a Winchester friend Keith Tasker bravely begin his rehabilitation after a stroke and I have found his positive attitude totally inspirational. He knows what I am trying to do for the cause and he is right behind me.'

The "Hampshire Double" idea came spontaneously and started out as a something of a joke.

Mark said: 'I was talking to an old rugby teammate and we were kicking around a few ideas to attract some sponsorship. Swimming to the Isle of Wight was one idea. Walking from Salisbury to Winchester was another. But on their own, both those challenges had been done before.

'Then it came to me. "Why don't I attempt both on the same weekend? Has anyone over 60 ever done that?"

Mark’s swim will take him from Hurst Point to Colwell Bay. “It’s only 1.3 miles which doesn’t sound that much but The Solent is quite a dangerous stretch of water and the tides are particularly a problem. I have some ex-military friends in support, just in case.

“My partner Kate has been helping me prepare for the walk, geeing me up as we walk the hills around Winchester.

'I think a lot of people my age start to fear having a stroke worse than we fear death itself. It's that idea of being left incapacitated that is so worrying.

'It could happen to any of us, so please help me try to do something about it by helping fund research and also to help finance care for those who suffer the devastation of strokes. You can come back from them. But it takes time and money to make a recovery work.'

If you wish to donate to Mark's Hampshire Double Fundraiser, please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mark-Ryan27.

Rebecca Miskin, relationship fundraiser at the Stroke Association, said: ““Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives and it can strike anyone – young, old and anyone in between. The Stroke Association is here to fund research and support people to rebuild their lives after stroke, but this is only possible with the efforts of our amazing supporters such as Mark and we’re hugely grateful to him.”