Making strides for Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
Caroline, a supported individual who lives at Bannigans, a specialist Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) residential service in Corby, is delighted to have raised over £900.00 after completing the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) UK’s ‘Marathon in May’ fundraising challenge in support of PWS Awareness Month.
PWS is a rare genetic disorder characterised by an insatiable appetite and a lack of satiety cues that can result in life threatening obesity if the condition is not appropriately managed.
Consensus supports close to 100 individuals with the syndrome in 12 specialist PWS residential services and six learning disability settings across England, Scotland and Wales.
The 2.6km challenge was launched on Sunday, 26th April – what should have been the date of the 40th London Marathon, the world’s biggest one-day annual fundraising event – with the aim of helping to raise much needed funds for all the charities who would otherwise be losing valuable income from this and other events like the London Marathon.
PWSA UK decided to make their ‘Marathon in May’ part of the challenge and encourage people of all ages to join in by walking the 62,962 steps it takes to complete a marathon over a few days or weeks depending on their ability.
The team at Bannigans support Caroline and the other individuals who live there to live a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise and a nutritious calorie-controlled diet. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Caroline temporarily moved back home with her parents. Despite the change in environment and the additional challenges the pandemic created, she was determined to continue her healthy routines and lifestyle.
Caroline decided that taking up the challenge would not only be a great way to stay motivated to keep fit but was also be a great way to raise money for the PWSA UK – a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by the syndrome, who are particularly close to Caroline’s heart due to the help and support they have provided her family over the years.
Combining the challenge with her daily exercise routine, Caroline successfully walked 10,000 steps per day and was delighted to complete the total 62,962 steps on her target date of the 8th May.
Lisa Carvell, Service Manager of Bannigans said, “What a brilliant achievement for Caroline! She has coped really well with her change in circumstances as a result of the pandemic and has shown great strength of character in turning it in to a positive by using this challenge as an opportunity to stay motivated, stay fit and raise funds for PWSA UK. We are all very proud of her.”
