Meon Valley Woman’s Fundraising Trek To Support Partner’s Recovery Following Rare Stroke

A Meon Valley woman has spent the past two days walking from Salisbury to her home to raise money to pay for her partner’s medical treatment.

Sarah Snowdon, who lives in Meonstoke, is hoping to raise £20,000 to pay for rehabilitation and equipment.

Her partner Richard, 49, suffered an extremely rare spinal stroke in July which caused severe C5 spinal injury and instant paralysis. Prior to this Richard had been fit and healthy and enjoyed regular cycling and playing football.

After 44 days on a ventilator in Wessex Intensive Care and Spinal Centre at Southampton General Hospital Richard was moved to Salisbury Spinal Centre and started his rehabilitation journey – a journey which will take many years.

“A significant proportion of the cost of his specialist rehabilitation and care needs to be funded by us, and I am therefore fundraising to give Richard the best hope of recovery,” says Sarah, 45.

“Any donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference – we are raising £20k to fund the rehabilitation and equipment which is not available through the NHS.

“My friend Hannah and I decided to walk from Rich’s temporary hospital home in Salisbury to his actual home in the village of Meonstoke – a journey of 38 miles which we decided to do over two days.

“Our aim is to secure enough money to send Richard to Hobbs Rehab, a leading spinal and neuro physiotherapy unit which is based in Winchester. Intensive rehab at Hobbs costs between £2,000 and £4,000 a week and Richard may need weeks of treatment with them.

“Whilst his treatment Hobbs is ongoing Rich will still need specialist equipment at home, to support his ongoing rehabilitation for many years.

“Any additional funds we raise beyond the cost for Hobbs will go towards equipment such as a therapy bike, standing frame and walking bars – which, coupled with determination, hard work and sheer bloody-mindedness may, just possibly, get Rich back on his feet in some way.

“Any donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference and get us closer to the £20k we need to fund the specialist rehabilitation and equipment which is not available through the NHS.”

Donations can be made to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/richardburdett