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Siemens Healthcare completed a charity ‘Stroke for Stroke’ initiative in partnership with The Stroke Association.

Siemens Healthcare has recently completed a charity ‘Stroke for Stroke’ initiative in partnership with The Stroke Association. This saw key company personnel completing a 1000km sponsored row with ex-Hollyoaks actor Marcus Patrick in a bid to raise funds for vital research.

The campaign, born from Siemens UK sponsorship of the GB rowing team, aimed to highlight the benefits of regular exercise, the need for increased availability of diagnostic scanning facilities and to raise funds for The Stroke Association. Now in its fourth year, Siemens involvement in the initiative has raised over £126,000.

As well as improving general health and reducing stress levels, regular exercise helps to reduce the risk of a stroke. Rowing has been identified as a good form of exercise to provide an effective cardiovascular workout, without putting stress on the joints.

Activities for the Stroke for Stroke Week 2011 took place at Siemens sites across the UK. At the headquarters, Sir William Siemens Square, Frimley, staff took part in a Frimley to Munich rowathon (the equivalent of 1000km). Following his recent success in the ITV series 'Zero Degrees North',ex-Hollyoaks actor Marcus Patrick, ‘rowed-off’ the Stroke for Stroke campaign this year by rowing 5k to encourage others to take part.  

Andreas J. Goss, Chief Executive of Siemens in the UK, said: “Stroke is the UK’s second 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.”

Peter Harrison, Divisional Director for Imaging and Therapy at Siemens Healthcare , said: “The speed of stroke diagnosis is still vital in the treatment and outcomes for stroke patients and medical imaging innovations remain fundamental to fast diagnosis to support selection of the most appropriate therapy. In addition to frontline CT and MRI, we also offer interventional radiology applications. syngo® Neuro Parenchymal Blood Volume for use on the Artis zee™ surgical imaging system enables the visualisation of parenchymal blood flow during minimally invasive brain interventions. It assists the neuroradiologist by displaying the condition of the cerebral tissue directly in the angio suite enabling swift and accurate treatment. This may involve guiding a thin catheter through the arteries of the brain to either deliver a drug to dissolve the blood clot or mechanically remove it.”

Head of Corporate Fundraising at the Stroke Association, James Beeby said: “Each year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK will suffer a stroke. Stroke for Stroke is now in its fourth year and a campaign like this is integral to raising awareness of how regular exercise and lifestyle choices can help prevent a stroke. This year we are anticipating an even greater number of people to get involved and support The Stroke Association’s vital research into stroke prevention and treatment.”

Source: Siemens Healthcare