Warm-hearted staff’s icy stunt

A woman who was paralysed down one side after a stroke was invited back to her former workplace when they handed over a £2,000 cheque to charity.
Crossroads Limited in Birstall invited old employee Julie McArdle back to hand over £2,000 for the Stroke Association, February 2015. Julie had a stroke two year ago.Crossroads Limited in Birstall invited old employee Julie McArdle back to hand over £2,000 for the Stroke Association, February 2015. Julie had a stroke two year ago.
Crossroads Limited in Birstall invited old employee Julie McArdle back to hand over £2,000 for the Stroke Association, February 2015. Julie had a stroke two year ago.

Employees at Crossroads Bus and Truck Limited in Birstall were inspired by former colleague Julie McArdle to do the ice bucket challenge last Bonfire Night, to raise cash for the Stroke Association.

Donations kept rolling in after the feat, in which freezing water is poured over someone’s head, fetched £1,500 on the night. After 12 years with the company Julie was forced to stop working after becoming hemiplegic and was paralysed down her left side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her mum Angela, who also attended the handover, said: “Julie was happy with the collection and it was nice to see people that she had worked with. She was a bit sad too, it was like the end of a chapter.

“They kept her job open for two years – that’s moretime than a lot of companies would do. They all came over and gave her a hug. They gave me some hugs too!”

As well as presenting Julie with flowers and a photo of the challenge, manager Richard Wilkinson and colleagues watched a presentation at the Pheasant Drive site to learn more about strokes.

Regional fundraiser for the Stroke Association Jo Beverley said: “With around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK – that’s around one every three and a half minutes – it is vital that we have people who can raise funds for people affected by stroke.” Julie, 43, is now undergoing rehabiliation with Headway Second Chance in Wakefield.