Vernon woman running from Vernon to Kelowna in support of KGH Foundation

Photo: Contributed

A Vernon woman is running from Vernon to Kelowna in support of the KGH Foundation advanced stroke care clinic fundraiser.

Lauren Barrie’s mother Maureen Crowley suffered a stroke in June of 2011 when she was just 46 years old. She spent three months in total at the Kelowna General Hospital, so when her daughter heard that KGH was fundraising for a new stroke clinic, she decided to show her support for her mom and others by running 50 kilometres and raising donations that will directly go towards the new stroke clinic.

The run will take place on June 13, and so far Barrie has already raised $2,500, well over her starting goal of $1,000. She says seeing her mom get through her stroke and continue to march forward is what gives her the motivation to complete the run.

“Just seeing her go through what she did, and the battles of the aftermath from the stroke and the strength that she showed made me realize that for me when i'm running, I know after 30 kilometres things will start to hurt, but I can do this because I’ve seen my mom stand up again and again.”

On the 10-year anniversary of her stroke, Crowley is said to be doing very well. Barrie says the care her mother received at the KGH was great.

"She spent a couple weeks in the hospital itself and then she was moved to their rehab clinic. She is so grateful for the care she received and obviously we are as well. The fact that she's still here with us and functioning well, we just have nothing but good things to say.”

Barrie’s donation page is directly linked to the KGH’s new stroke clinic fundraiser, and you can donate here. Health officials are asking the community to help raise $8 million in donations that would go towards acute care equipment at KGH, as well as the care for stroke victims.