In May 2023, the Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (OSRU) at Abingdon Community Hospital launched an appeal to raise £7500 for the purchase of new equipment designed to enable their stroke survivors to use their affected arms more independently and to practise their exercises at higher intensity. This new device is considered to be an enhancement to their service, and therefore its cost would not be covered by statutory NHS funding.

Since their appeal opened, supporters for the unit have been hard at work in their fundraising efforts – from patients completing a combined epic static cycle challenge, to staff and community members taking part in the Abingdon NHS 75 Park Run. A successful raffle has also been held and there are even plans for an upcoming ‘silent auction’!

One staff member who had hoped to join her colleagues at the Park Run was Specialist Physiotherapist, Dipti Mistry. Unfortunately, family commitments prevented her from taking part in the event but, as she still wished to help fundraise for the OSRU appeal, she decided instead to set herself a more personal challenge.

Inspired by how much funding the OSRU patients raised with their cycling event, Dipti decided to set herself the goal of completing 100 skips per day throughout the month of July.

Speaking to the Oxford Health Charity team, Dipti explained:

I have always enjoyed skipping as a young girl and had recently seen a skipping challenge online for other charities and thought this would be a fun way to keep fit and challenge myself.

Despite July’s often wet and windy weather, Dipti remained happy, energised and undeterred as she faced her challenge. Spurred on by the support of her husband and 2-year-old son, as well as friends and colleagues, she successfully completed her daily quota of 100 skips. Not just content with her number of skips however, she pushed herself still further by attempting to achieve her total skips every day without stopping and, having become somewhat of a skipping pro, Dipti even succeeded in completing 100 skips in one minute!

While she feels a personal health benefit after having completed 3100 skips (!), Dipti is also thrilled to see that she has smashed her fundraising target and has so far raised an amazing £310 for the OSRU Appeal. She is delighted to have raised such an incredible amount which will have a direct impact on, and huge benefits for, the recovery of her patients. Dipti continued:

I am super proud to work with the amazing patients and staff on OSRU. Super proud of myself [also] for completing a challenge and committing to it every day which is not always easy! I have really enjoyed it… I'm blown away by everyone's generosity!

Huge congratulations, Dipti, from the Oxford Health Charity team – we think you’re awesome 😊. And good luck for your next personal challenge – 200 skips per day throughout August!

If you would like to specifically support Dipti in her 100 skips-per-day challenge, then please visit her Just Giving page.

If you would like to find out more about how the OSRU provides specialist rehabilitation for people post-stroke, or learn more about their appeal and leave a donation, please visit their appeal page. 

If Dipti’s challenge has inspired you to undertake your own personal fundraising goal for an Oxford Health service, or for one of our current charity appeals, please get in touch to let us know and find out how we may be able to support you. We’d love to hear from you: [email protected].