Press release -
Hertfordshire woman set to tackle London Marathon as Pink Lady® apple
A Hertfordshire mother of two will don a Pink Lady® apple suit at the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 24 April to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.
Mari McEleney, 39, will take on the 26.2 mile race to raise funds for the charity. Mari, a cardiac specialist nurse, has been running for six years and the London Marathon will be her ninthmarathon.
Pink Lady® apples has selected the Stroke Association to benefit from money raised by its runners, and this is their tenth year supporting the Marathon. Every year, four Virgin Money London Marathon runners dress up in Pink Lady® apple costumes and run the full marathon, raising money for the charity.
Mari said: “I'm no stranger to stroke as my grandparents both sadly passed away after a stroke in their nineties.
“I have been working extra shifts on the stroke wards in my local hospital in Stevenage for the past nine months, and it's only when you see many people struggling with a newly acquired disability that you realise how vulnerable they are – and just how cruel stroke can be.
“I’ve chosen to raise funds for the Stroke Association because of the incredible work the charity does to support people affected by this devastating condition.”
Jim Swindells, Director of Fundraising for the Stroke Association, said: “We’re delighted that Pink Lady® has chosen to support us in this way and Mari is a great member of the team. We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way as she races through London this April.”
Michelle Toft, Chief Marketing Officer for Pink Lady®, said: “The 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon is such a wonderful, inspirational spectacle and we always enjoy being part of it. We’ve chosen to support Stroke Association as stroke affects so many people, their friends, and families in this country, and the charity does such fabulous work to help them all. It also promotes healthy eating, which is what we’re all about. What’s more, Pink Lady® apples are high in flavonoids, a plant-based nutrient which studies have suggested could reduce stroke risk.”
It’s not too late to support Mari’s fundraising efforts, just visit : http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MariMcEleney
Topics
A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are around 152,000 strokes in the UK every year and it is the leading cause of severe adult disability. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
