Amanda’s big test

Amanda, a marketing manager at International Personal Finance, has given herself a year to raise £2,013 for the Stroke Association as her best friend, Paul, had a stroke in December last year, at the age of 36.

“I’m really looking forward to completing my challenges, hopefully I’ll do them all before my birthday in January 2014! I chose to raise money for the Stroke Association because they are there to offer support after a stroke. When Paul gets home it will be a long road to recovery, but with the right help, he’ll be able to adjust to life after stroke as best he can.”

Amanda, 39, from Halifax, has already raised 35 per cent of her target, after completing seven out of her 40 challenges. Amanda’s friends and family are taking part in some challenges from swimming 40 lengths, fasting for 40 hours and a 40 pub bar crawl.

Mark Forder, the manager of Pure Gym, Leeds, is supporting Amanda and has arranged to hold a five-day event at the gym, in which Amanda will row for 40 minutes each day. The event, which will be held on April 28-May 2, will have collection buckets, competitions between staff, prize draws including a month’s free membership and personal training classes, and free blood pressure tests for anyone who would like to come along and support Amanda.

Amanda has also gained some celebrity supporters including Matt Lewis from Leeds, who became famous playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, and Brendan Cole, a dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. The support has helped one of Amanda’s challenges – to get 40 retweets from celebrities on Twitter.

Amanda is encouraging people to join her ‘Getting Whacky at the Track’ event which will be held at Spring Hall Athletics club, Halifax, on Saturday June 29, 4.30-6.30pm. The challenge involves taking part in 40 laps of the running track in 40 different styles, from skipping to using a space hopper to complete the lap. Paul has also set himself the challenge of walking a lap of the track by himself.

“I want to raise as much awareness as possible for the Stroke Association, particularly that a stroke can happen to anyone at any age. I hope people will come down to join in on the day, as this challenge will be a fun way of getting the message across.”

Visit www.justgiving.co.uk/40challengesb4forty.