Date: December 29, 2023
Detective Sergeant Dan Thrale is about to conclude a remarkable year of personal challenges, all in honour of his father, Patrick Thrale. This extraordinary journey began when Patrick suffered a major ischemic stroke in February 2022. Wanting to support his father and contribute to a worthy cause, Dan embarked on a year-long endeavour to raise money for the Stroke Association.
Together with his two children and Patrick’s grandchildren, Dan designed a series of challenges for 2023, each based on a letter of his father’s name, Patrick:
- P for playing 365 holes of golf at par.
- A for abstaining from alcohol for a year.
- T for completing a tennis ‘marathon’ of 26 sets.
- R for a “Roots run” between his father’s childhood homes.
- I for undertaking an Ironman challenge.
- C for giving back to the community by volunteering at Havens Hospices.
- K for ‘kids set the challenge’, including various activities set by Patrick’s grandchildren.
Dan’s motivation for this ambitious journey was to express his gratitude for the support his family received during his father’s medical crisis. Although Patrick is now stable, he requires constant care, made possible by Dan’s mother’s dedication.
Reflecting on the experience, Dan shared, “Money is so tight nowadays; I wanted to really earn people’s donations. Having finished that last run and with the end of the year in sight, I feel a sense of relief and pride. I’m really happy that I’ve achieved what I set out to and have raised more than £6,500 so far.
Dan, who recently transferred to Southend CID from the Basildon Domestic Abuse Investigation Team (DAIT), demonstrated impressive athleticism throughout the year. He participated in various physical challenges, including playing 365 holes of golf, completing 29 sets of tennis in 13 hours, and conquering an Ironman triathlon in Klagenfurt, Austria. The Ironman, which consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon, marked a significant achievement for Dan, who had little prior experience in swimming and distance running.
Dan extended his appreciation to his family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support throughout this year of challenges. He expressed gratitude to everyone who backed him, emphasizing that the support he received was one of the most incredible aspects of his journey.
As he prepares to wrap up his volunteering at the hospice in Hadleigh, where he dedicated more than 100 hours in 2023, Dan looks forward to celebrating New Year’s Day with his family. After a year of relentless physical and mental effort, he plans to take some well-deserved rest and spend quality time with his loved ones.
Patrick, Dan’s father, couldn’t be prouder of his son’s achievements, describing him as “Superman.” Dan’s remarkable journey has not only honored his father but has also made a significant contribution to the Stroke Association and its mission to support stroke survivors and fund medical research.
To support Dan’s fundraising efforts for the Stroke Association, you can visit his fundraising page: The Patrick Challenge 2023.
