Throughout July, Robin Gibbs a 47-year-old from Hull, undertook an impressive challenge of walking 500,000 steps within the month, aiming to raise £500 for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Inspired by his colleague Sarah Carter, who lives with muscular dystrophy, Robin’s initiative not only met but exceeded the target, raising £1,305 with the help of his 11 colleagues at Vizion.
Collectively, they amassed over five million steps, showcasing a remarkable commitment to raising funds and awareness for muscle-wasting conditions.
Team Vizion’s Commitment to Muscular Dystrophy UK
“Everyone in the group had their own motives for taking part,” said Robin Gibbs. “For me, I enjoy walking and it benefits my mental health, but my main reason was to support others. I’m thrilled that we exceeded our £500 target and raised over £1,000. It was rewarding to do it as a team and see others achieve great things.”
Robin’s initiative was driven by a personal connection and a desire to support his colleague Sarah, who, despite her challenges, remains a positive and integral part of their team.
“We did this for her and everyone else living with muscular dystrophy,”
Robin added.
The Impact of Collective Effort
Other team members also expressed their reasons for joining the challenge. Laura Senior highlighted the importance of raising awareness, stating,
“The more people that are aware of the cause, the better. My main motivation is to help Muscular Dystrophy UK for my teammate and others living with a muscle-wasting condition.”
Similarly, Rosie Goundrill was motivated by her newfound understanding of the condition’s impact on daily life.
Despite the individual challenges, the collective effort resulted in an astounding total of 5.1 million steps. Robin noted,
“Some people did more, some did less, but it wasn’t about that. It was a team effort to support our colleague and friend, Sarah.”
Muscular Dystrophy UK: A Voice of Gratitude
Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Regional Development Manager, Susanne Driffield, expressed deep gratitude for the team’s efforts.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Robin for coming up with this idea and getting his teammates at Vizion involved. Their support helps raise awareness and understanding of muscular dystrophy, and it enables us to continue providing crucial advice, support, and research funding.”
Understanding Muscle-Wasting Conditions
Living with a muscle-wasting condition involves numerous challenges, including frequent medical appointments, physiotherapy, treatments, and respiratory support. These progressive conditions worsen over time, leading to difficulties in walking, swallowing, and breathing, as well as pain and heart complications. The support from initiatives like Team Vizion’s step challenge is vital in improving the lives of those affected.
About Muscular Dystrophy UK
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the leading charity for over 110,000 people in the UK living with muscle-wasting conditions. The charity offers expert advice and support, funds groundbreaking research, and works with the NHS to ensure universal access to specialist healthcare. Through campaigning for better understanding, accessibility, and treatments, Muscular Dystrophy UK aims to enhance the quality of life for those affected.
Join the Cause
For more information or to support the ongoing work of Muscular Dystrophy UK, visit Muscular Dystrophy UK or follow Team Vizion’s fundraising efforts on JustGiving. Together, we can make a difference.
