Siemens and The Stroke Association Launch 2010 Awareness Campaign

The third annual Stroke for Stroke campaign has been launched in a bid to raise awareness of stroke and to highlight the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise in its prevention. The campaign will run between 25th and 31st January 2010 and will challenge members of the public to row 10km (or more), helping to raise vital funds.

The campaign, a joint initiative by The Stroke Association and Siemens, the High Performance Partner of GB Rowing, has raised over £70,000 to date by encouraging members of the public to take part. In addition to raising funds, the campaign aims to highlight that anybody, irrespective of age, can suffer from a stroke and that a healthy lifestyle can help to significantly reduce the risks.

Either through access to a Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centre or on open water, the campaign is open to everyone across the UK by visiting www.strokeforstroke.co.uk or calling 020 7566 1503.

Olympic gold medalist, Zac Purchase, is backing the campaign, “Regular exercise is a key factor in staying healthy and reducing the risk of stroke, and rowing is an ideal, all-round, low-impact workout. It’s great to be involved in the Stroke for Stroke campaign and we hope to help raise plenty of money and awareness.”

Gunter Dombrowe, Managing Director, Siemens Healthcare UK, said: “Prevention is key to reducing the number of people who suffer strokes and part of a bigger picture within the care continuum. Strokes put a huge amount of pressure on the NHS, requiring the fastest possible access to diagnostics and emergency care, rapid implementation of appropriate treatment and rehabilitation support long afterwards. As a leading provider
of healthcare solutions, Siemens is well placed to continue raising awareness in this area.”

Andreas J. Goss, Chief Executive, Siemens in the UK, said: “Stroke is the UK’s third biggest killer and contrary to popular belief it can affect people of any age. Siemens is delighted to be able to use our partnership with GB Rowing to help build awareness, raise much-needed funds for The Stroke Association and to encourage people to take up regular exercise as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. I’ll be doing my bit, and encouraging our employees to do the same so please visit the website and have some fun taking part in Stroke for Stroke 2010.”