Ryan raring to Row for Stroke Recovery!

At just 32 years old, Ryan Webber became one of the 45,785 Australians to experience a stroke in 2023.

Now, Ryan is using his personal journey of recovery to lead a powerful and inspiring event aimed at raising awareness and funds for Stroke Foundation.

On March 29th, Ryan will spearhead the 500,000m Row for Aussie Stroke Survivors, an event designed to unite the community in support of survivors of stroke and their families in Sydney’s Cronulla. Each team will work together towards a collective fundraising goal, with personalised landing pages allowing them to raise funds for Stroke Foundation.

For Ryan, this cause is deeply personal. Since surviving his stroke, he has faced ongoing challenges, including chronic nerve pain, weakness and numbness on his right side, daily fatigue, vertigo, and loss of a part of his vision. Despite these obstacles, Ryan is determined to share his story and shed light on the silent battles that survivors of stroke face every day.

“This event is for every survivor of stroke fighting their own battle; for those who never had the chance to recover; and for the families affected by the ripple effect of stroke,” Ryan said.

“I want my story to inspire others to keep pushing forward in their recovery journey.”

The 500,000m Row for Aussie Stroke Survivors event promises to be a vibrant, high-energy spectacle, with local content creators and media coverage amplifying the message.

Stroke Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, commended Ryan and his community for their efforts in raising awareness for survivors of stroke.

“There are over 440,400 people in Australia living with a disability as a result of stroke, and it is inspiring to see Ryan, a survivor himself, lead the charge in shining a light on this important issue,” Dr Murphy said.

Ryan hopes to not only raise funds but also educate the public on stroke prevention and recovery and raise awareness on stroke as one of Australia’s biggest killers.

“Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of survivors of stroke and those on their recovery journey,” he added. “By sharing our stories and supporting each other, we can fight for better stroke awareness and research.”

The event is open to all, and Ryan encourages local community members to join in the fight against stroke by participating in the event or supporting through donations.

Ryan’s 500,000m Row for Aussie Stroke Survivors will take place at Dunningham Park, Cronulla between 6:30am-3:30pm on Saturday 29 March 2025.

Please check @paragon_fitt on Instagram for more details or donate at https://www.fundraise4stroke.org.au/fundraisers/ryanparagonfit/500-000m-row-for-australian-strokesurvivors