On Friday 13th December 2019, I suffered a very severe stroke; by the time I reached the hospital, I was completely paralyzed down one side, was suffering from speech loss and many other symptoms associated with strokes. Luckily, I had been in good health up until then and was treated very quickly by fantastic doctors and nurses. I was able to eventually return home on Christmas eve, just in time for a very different Christmas. Despite this, there is still a long journey to conquer to be fully rehabilitated.
I began my rehabilitation journey by improving my speech, singing, walking, motor control and general physical strength. However, my rehabilitation has not been easy due to extreme fatigue which has made improving on my walking incredibly hard. I started walking laps around my garden to help improve movement when I realized that, while I was helping myself, I could help others too.
With the knowledge that the choral music industry has and will continue to suffer greatly during the Coronavirus pandemic, I decided to raise money by walking two marathons around my own garden.
Each marathon walk totals 26.2 miles or 46145 yards; each lap of my garden is a little over 38.5 yards. I have already walked the distance of one marathon (1198 laps) in just over 9 weeks and I have set myself the challenge to complete the second one in just 8 weeks, that's another 1198 laps. Of course I won't be completing the laps all in one go! I am aiming to complete at least five laps per day, most days I will be able to complete many more laps as I have to average 21.4 laps per day to make the target. You will be able to check out my daily progress at my website www.francesprovost-fundraising.co.uk
I have a particular charity that I will be supporting, the Southwell Minster Choir Association (Registered Charity No.1000584). I have a particular fondness for the music at the Minster and know that the music life there has been seriously affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. By supporting the Choir Association they can in turn support; the young people who love to sing at Southwell Minster; the Lay Clerks (adult singers) who rely on the modest income from singing at the Minster; the professional musicians who lead the music at the Minster; the tradition of high quality music lead by Southwell Minster.
I have set a target of £10,000 that I want to raise in support of Southwell Minster Choir Association. I think of it this way:
If only 1,000 households could donate £10 each that would achieve our target of £10,000.
You don't have to give £10 as every £1 counts, just spread the word - the more households donate the better.
Please support my efforts and let us keep Cathedral Music Choral Tradition alive!