Bring it On Campaign

George Scola may not have the public profile or great sporting achievements of many other KES Old Boys, but this has not deterred him from undertaking an epic 2500km journey on foot from Beit Bridge to Cape Town.

The significance of this feat has to be seen in the context of George having emerged from hospital in a wheelchair little more than two years ago after suffering a stroke.

Following this truly life-changing experience, effectively losing his business and marriage as a direct result, George has adopted the mantle of championing more direct support for stroke survivors.

He is doing this through the Stroke Survivors Foundation, a non-profit organisation he established with fellow stroke survivor Charlene Murray. Their mission is to establish a national network to provide support for stroke survivors, including their families and even caregivers.

"There is very little support and information available to people who have had a stroke in the critical first two years after a stroke. This is something Charlene and I both experienced, and feel compelled to address", he says.

His walk, dubbed the Bring it On Campaign, is central to the work of the Foundation and aims to raise awareness and funds so they can achieve their vision.

George left from Beit Bridge on 15 August and is travelling through Limpopo, North West, the Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape over the next six months. He will be stopping at towns and cities along the way to visit clinics, hospitals and community centres to raise awareness and inspire stroke survivors.

"This is far more than a personal challenge for me as there are hundreds of South Africans who suffer a stroke daily, with the vast majority of them unable to get the necessary rehabilitation and care. My message, through this walk, is that there is life after stroke and people can continue, if they have the right support.”

George's progress along the journey can be tracked on the Foundation website – www.strokesurvivors.org.za – and on which supporters and donors can find out how they can help.

"We are calling for donations to help us achieve our aims," he says. "Stroke is not something that happens only to the elderly. I was 36 and Charlene was 32 when we it happened to us, and the age groups susceptible to stroke are getting younger and younger. Most importantly, there are literally thousands of people in outlying areas who get no support and have no-one to turn to."

How the public can help

The Stroke Survivors Foundation is in need of funding to achieve its goals and is calling for public , private and corporate donations to realise its ideals.

The Bring it On campaign itself requires R700 000 for the duration of the walk to cover expenses, while the Foundation aims to raise at least R2 million to fund its future and ongoing activities.

(Stroke Survivors Foundation, August 2010)