Stroke survivor Andrew Iselin is set to run the Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday 1 July and in doing so will break a world record. Here he shares with us his journey to Do it 4 Stroke.

My name is Andrew Iselin and I suffered a stroke in early 2009 when I was 17 years of age. My left vertebral artery was dissected and this caused the complete loss of movement to the right side of my body. I spent about two weeks in hospital where I tried to regain basic functions. After this I went into a rehabilitation unit where I spent about 6 weeks partaking in intensive rehab where I spent about an hour a day with the physios and occupational therapists, as well as constantly doing the exercises they gave me until I went to bed. I worked with them in learning to gain the function back in the right hand side of my body, where I learnt to crawl, walk, write, etc. Once I had exited the rehabilitation unit I was still visiting about twice a week until I started university midway through that year.

Since then I have been classified into athletes with a disability where I have competed three times at nationals with the hope of eventually making an Australian team for the 800m or 1500m events on the track. I did have my sights set on London 2012 but I came to the realisation that in order to make it I will have to train for longer and get more used to my disability. After my disappointment of not performing how I would have liked during the track season I was again looking over the world records for my classification which one-day I hope to be able to achieve. I decided out of interest to look at the marathon world record and when I did I realised that there had been no record set for my classification. This motivated me to set a world record for my classification. My training schedule has not changed greatly from what I would have been doing at this time of year in order to prepare for the next track season. I train 6 days a week, twice a day whilst completing three university subjects. The only difference now is I have picked up the kilometres so I will now do an average of 60km a week.

My main challenges facing me now when it comes to preparing for the marathon is making sure I listen to my body and don’t train to hard when I feel a small injury occurring. My aim is to run the marathon under four hours and hopefully the right side of my body will handle the distance. I know that I have the determination to finish the marathon; it all comes down to how fast I complete it. In running this marathon I want to raise as much money as I can for the National Stroke Foundation and I also hope my running of the marathon can help raise awareness of stroke and encourage people to seek out the warning signs of a stroke because as you can see a stroke can happen to anyone of any age, of any athletic ability. If I knew the warning signs my stroke could have been prevented.

To donate money and support Andrew in his amazing effort to break a world record visit his fundraising page: Andrew Islin

The National Stroke Foundation recommends that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional before embarking on any strenuous exercise.

Anita Mitchell describes herself as a “novice runner” even though she took up the sport as part of a new fitness regime several years ago.

Since then the 30-year-old mother of two has built up her strength and stamina to a point where she has already completed a half-marathon (21kms).

“I didn’t think I could run a long distance until a trainer told me that if I could run 10kms then I could run 21,” Anita says.

And she was thrilled to find that she could.

Anita, who lives in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, has recently committed to running a full marathon – the renowned Paris Marathon in April 2012 – for the National Stroke Foundation.

She aims to raise $12,000 which will go towards funding stroke research, prevention and awareness programs.

Stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer and a leading cause of disability. 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime and the National Stroke Foundation works to raise awareness of stroke, advocate for better treatment and more stroke units in hospitals, fund research and provide services and programs to support stroke survivors, families and carers.

She enjoys the challenge of running because, she says, it draws on reserves of patience she did not previously think she had.

“I don’t naturally have a lot of patience – I generally want to get in, get it done and go,” Anita says.

“Marathons take a lot of patience, a lot of concentration on getting through the next kilometre and the next.”

Anita, who is Business Operations Manager at NSF, had no hesitation in raising this money for her new favourite charity.

“And Paris is my favourite city, I can’t imagine running through more beautiful streets.”

For more information on running the Paris Marathon and other NSF challenges, go to Doit4Stroke or call Kim Vernon on (03) 9670 1000.

My name is Maureen… in May last year at the age of 41, I suffered a massive stroke.

My husband recognised the warning signs and sought urgent medical attention.

His response prevented devastating, permanent disabilities or more likely… my death.

Life for me, still revolves around rehabilitation, but I’m definitely one of the lucky ones! I expect to eventually make a full recovery.

My family would like to raise awareness about the warning signs and cause of stroke, while raising funds for the National Stroke Foundation.

Saturday October 22nd from 7.30pm til approx 11.30pm.

Chelsea RSL, Thames Promenade Chelsea (Victoria).

Guest Speakers:

Dr Bruce Bolam Divisional Director of Prevention and Awareness, National Stroke Foundation.
Mel and Carol Hughes Mt Eliza / Mt Martha Stroke Support Group.

If you would like to book tickets for the dinner or make a tax deductible donation, please email Maureen M_lesjak@yahoo.com.au

Summit 4 Stroke (February 2012)
Cycle 4 Stroke (March 2012)

The National Stroke Foundation has just launched two new amazing Inspired Adventures to raise money for stroke and experience a trip of a lifetime. Climb the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro or cycle your way around beautiful Vietnam and Cambodia
- all for a worthy cause!

Imagine waking up touching the clouds with the vast Tanzanian plains beneath you and the smells of the rainforest intoxicating your senses. You’ll climb past fields of maize and potatoes, pine forests and ice fields, glaciers and caves.

You can challenge yourself acclimatising to the altitude as you come closer and closer to reaching the top of the magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2012.

The second Inspired Adventure is in March – cycling one of the world’s most beautiful routes through Vietnam and Cambodia. Have you ever started off the day shopping at a floating market in the river, cycled across sand and dirt roads in rugged Cambodia, or walked along rice paddies and small fishing villages?

The Cycle 4 Stroke Challenge will take you into the heart of Vietnam and Cambodia, as you learn about its evolving Khmer history, French colonialism, and uniquely Southeast Asian culture. You’ll see some of the best-known structures on the planet at the famous world heritage Angkor Wat near some of the most commonly forgotten peoples and histories.

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime as you raise money for the National Stroke Foundation’s mission to provide better support and treatment to stroke survivors.

Simply go to www.strokefoundation.com.au/nsfchallenges to find out how you can help make a difference while experiencing a life
changing challenge.

Each Inspired Adventure includes a physical activity for at  least seven days eg. a trek or a cycle. Your challenge is to train, fundraise and prepare for this physical activity!