Royal Mail manager tackles London Marathon for the Stroke Association

A Royal Mail delivery manager from Bingham will take on the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 26 April, to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.

Wayne Cummings, 37, has first-hand experience of dealing with a stroke. He was working as a postman in 2012 when he was called into an elderly lady’s home while out on delivery. She was concerned that her husband had fallen and couldn’t move. Having seen the FAST adverts on television, Wayne quickly realised he’d had a stroke and called an ambulance, potentially saving his life.

Wayne said: “My experience makes me want to raise money for such a great charity. However, the Stroke Association has always been a charity close to my heart. I have unfortunately been aware of how suddenly a stroke can happen, when we sadly lost my wife’s grandma to a stroke eight years ago. She was a fit and healthy lady one day and gone the next. Over the next few months I will also be organising an afternoon champagne tea party and a black tie race evening to raise even more funds.

“I have previously completed two London Marathons, with my best time being 3 hours 48 minutes. I’m hoping to better my best time this year and training has been going well, although the winter months have been difficult!”

Wayne is among the Royal Mail Group staff across the country who are fundraising for their Charity of the Year partnership with the Stroke Association.

Lily Heinemann Head of Corporate Responsibility and Community Investment at Royal Mail said: “The Virgin London Marathon is such an iconic event and a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for our Charity of the Year. We’re thrilled to have so many Royal Mail runners just like Wayne supporting the Stroke Association and taking on the 26 miles of London streets to help us to raise vital funds in aid of Life after Stroke Grants.

“In the next two years, we want to raise at least £2 million for the Stroke Association, so that we can change the lives of thousands of people affected by stroke.”

Louise Knight, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at the Stroke Association, added: “Stroke can be devastating, but with the support of people like Wayne we can make a real difference to people affected by stroke. We’ll be cheering Wayne on every step of the way as he races through London this April, and together we can conquer stroke.”

The Stroke Association was chosen as Royal Mail Group’s Charity of the Year after receiving almost 40,000 staff votes. The company aims to raise at least £2 million for the Stroke Association over the course of the partnership. Every penny raised will help the charity provide Life After Stroke grants of up to £300 to help 10,000 stroke survivors. These grants fund equipment to give stroke survivors more independence and support as they take their first steps back into the community.

For more information about stroke, ring the Helpline on 0303 30 33 100 or visit www.stroke.org.uk. To sponsor Wayne visit www.sponsorme.co.uk/WayneCummings