Hospital staff launch 979‑mile virtual cycling challenge to fund stroke patient library

Staff and patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's West Raynham Ward will collectively cycle 979 miles on a new adaptive exercise bike and hope to raise £10,000 to fund an aphasia library to support stroke recovery.

Staff and patients on the West Raynham Ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have begun a virtual cycling challenge to raise funds for a specialist library for people recovering from stroke. The team aims to complete a collective distance of 979 miles, the equivalent of Land's End to John O'Groats, using a recently purchased adaptive exercise bike. That bike was bought with money raised during a sponsored 57‑mile hike across the Norfolk coast and is already being used in patient rehabilitation. The ward's current fundraising focus is creating an aphasia library with accessible reading materials to support speech, language and cognitive recovery. Key details: - The ward has launched the second stage of its equipment appeal with a 979‑mile virtual cycling target. - The team hopes to raise £10,000 through sponsorship for the remainder of the appeal. - The adaptive exercise bike can be used by both ambulatory and wheelchair users and is being used to help increase mobility and limb flexibility during therapy. - The bike was funded by funds raised in a previous 57‑mile sponsored hike along the Norfolk coast. - Staff and patients are participating together; John Syson, director of people at QEH, recorded the first mile and senior physiotherapist Scott Ablett highlighted patient involvement as motivation. - The planned aphasia library is intended to provide reading materials suited to different ability levels to support language therapy; speech and language therapist Ella‑Louise Hamilton explained how aphasia can affect speaking, reading, writing and understanding. Summary: Funds raised through the virtual cycling challenge will be used to buy materials and create a dedicated aphasia library to support rehabilitation and wellbeing for stroke patients. The adaptive bike is already in therapeutic use and the team is continuing toward the 979‑mile goal while seeking up to £10,000 in sponsorship; further timing and detailed milestones were not specified.