As a young, very fit keen runner, I was devastated when I suffered a stroke while out running in 2006. I have since discovered that I am not alone and 10,000 people under the age of 55 suffer a stroke in the every year (1,000 of these are under 30). I was very fortunate as my sister recognised the symptoms (confused speech and numbness in my lip, right arm and right leg) and rushed me to hospital, despite my protestations that there was nothing wrong! A brain scan confirmed a stroke and later I was diagnosed with a hole in the heart which is believed to have been the cause.
Fortunately I am fully recovered – the doctors credit my good recovery to having been fit, having maintained a healthy lifestyle and a quick response. However the recovery was a long journey - it was 4 months until I could go back to work - but I used my running to help rebuild my physical strength and confidence.
I am honoured to have been given one of the Stroke Association’s Golden Bond places for the 2010 London Marathon and I will be running it with a sign on my back saying “I am a Stroke Survivor”. I ran the marathon in 2004 in 3 hrs and 40 minutes – my target is to run it faster this time around!
As well as raising valuable funds for the Stroke Association, I hope to raise awareness of strokes inflicting younger people and to inspire other stroke survivors to achieve their own goals and targets.
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PS I completed the marathon in 3 hours and 25 minutes - which is 15 minutes faster than last time and 5 minutes faster than my target! I thoroughly enjoyed it as the crowds were fantastic! When the pain kicked in towards the end I remembered the funds I had raised and the stroke patients I was running for who may not be lucky to even walk, let alone run - some how the pains in my feet seemed to melt away! Thank you all for your support!
