Jersey woman tackles mammoth run after strokes strike her dad and uncle

A Jersey woman whose family were rocked by two strokes in two weeks is raising money so that others may be spared the same anguish in the future.

Brothers Rob and Steven Duhamel had strokes in September last year. Rob, 66, a former Environment Minister from Jersey who served on the States Assembly for more than two decades, sadly died and his youngest brother Steven, a 62-year-old retired auditor, is still in hospital recovering from his stroke.

Now Rob’s daughter Dione, 30, is raising money for the Stroke Association, which today (Thursday 12 May) launches a campaign to raise funds for vital research into stroke.

Dione, a compliance manager with Saltgate, aims to raise £5,000 by running 2,500km – the distance from her home in St Helier to Helsinki – as well as taking part in the Jersey Marathon in October.

Jersey headquartered fund administrator Saltgate has pledged to match £2,500 to help Dione reach her fundraising total.

“This is a cause close to my heart as last year my family suffered from two massive hits due to stroke,” said Dione.

“Firstly my uncle had a stroke which is he still fighting and recovering from and then my dad sadly passed away just a few days after he had a stroke.

“I didn’t know much about strokes before my family suffered such a huge loss last year. I want to raise public awareness and help contribute to the funding of research on better prevention, treatment and support to individuals and their families.

“We had a lovely Sunday afternoon in the garden but Dad had a stroke during the night and wouldn’t wake up on the Monday morning. He was rushed to hospital and the doctors thought that he might make a recovery but then on Tuesday they stopped treatment.

“My uncle was in coma after his stroke. He was going back and forth between hospitals in Jersey and Southampton for treatment. He’s doing much better now and that’s a positive. He has regained his speech and some cognitive ability and has come a very long way in his recovery but his vision is significantly impaired, his left side is paralysed and it’s likely he will never walk again.”

Steven and his family have been supported by the Stroke Association’s stroke recovery service.

“Since September everything has been a blur. You feel so helpless because you can’t do anything and it’s all left up to the doctors. I wanted to do something that mattered and as a keen runner I thought doing a running challenge would be a good way to raise money for the Stroke Association and help other families.

“Last year I did approx.1,200km and I wanted to push myself for a challenge so 2,500km sounded like a good number – although it is already proving quite a hard target.

“It worked out to just under 50km a week which is quite a lot to fit into work and social life. I’m already a bit behind which is tough.”

Most of Dione’s training is along the promenade of St Aubin’s Bay but she also ventures inland to train for the hills which feature in the Jersey Marathon.

“I find it’s my time,” said Dione. “It’s a really meditative activity where I can just sort my head out and have it as my personal time. If I’ve had bad times in the past I’ve gone for a run

“In the weeks just after Dad died, running was a big thing to clear my head. It really helped me to cope.

“I’ve done the Jersey Marathon twice before and the virtual New York Marathon. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with running marathons, they are really tough mentally as well as physically but there is nothing quite like the feeling when you pass the finish line. I’m hoping that the amount of running I’m doing this year will help me beat my best time of four hours and 29 minutes.”

“I’m really lucky that I’ve got such supportive friends, family and colleagues and I’ve been really touched by the generosity of everyone so far.”

Saltgate’s Chief Company Officer Hannah Culshaw said: “What Dione’s taken on is nothing short of incredible. She’s inspired all of us at Saltgate – not just with the physical endurance of her challenge and her personal story behind it – but to watch out for the warning signs of stroke,” she says.

“It can devastate families in an instant. So for Dione to set up a challenge like this shows real spirit. We’re so proud to support her, and to help her raise awareness as she hits her target. We’re all cheering her on at Saltgate.”

Jacqui Cuthbert, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South West and Channel Islands, said: “Dione’s family were dealt a cruel blow when her dad and uncle both had strokes and in such a short time. We’re grateful that she’s chosen to fundraise to support our charity’s work and wish her well as she pounds those long, long kilometres.

“Despite the devastating impact of stroke, stroke research is chronically underfunded and receives far less funding than other health conditions that have similar life-long effects.

“Despite stroke still being the fourth biggest killer in the UK, research has helped to more than halve the rate of deaths from stroke over the last three decades. It’s absolutely crucial that we continue this progress, but we can’t do this without vital funding. Far less is spent ‘per survivor’ on research into stroke than on research into any other health condition.

“We would never want to take researchers or money away from other conditions such as cancer, but we do want to replicate the success that cancer research has had, so that we can continue to make breakthroughs in stroke treatment and care.

“Now our focus is on improving life, after stroke strikes. The Stroke Association is the only organisation dedicated to funding research into ongoing rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Our research means everything to stroke survivors and their families. It gives hope for a better recovery, living more independently, a future.”

The charity’s Jersey Stroke Recovery Service supports stroke survivors, families and carers of people affected by stroke in the Island and can be contacted on 07829 845086.

Dione has already raised more than £1,000 towards her target. To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dione-duhamel1.