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As you may know, in March 2009 I suffered a stroke .... It was like a bolt out of the blue ... One minute I'm making breakfast, the next I'm in resuscitation unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

I have never smoked, I swam most days before work, yes, I had an occasional glass of wine or medicinal brandy before bed. SO WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

Well the fact is, every year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke.

That's one person every five minutes. I WAS THAT ONE!

Most people affected are over 65, I WAS 45 

ANYONE can have a stroke, including children and even babies.

So, here we are, after a lengthy stay on the stroke unit, a stint in Oxford Centre for Enablement (a whole year out of my life gone).

With lots of love and a ton of support from my family and friends, millions of tears (& a few tantrums), too many falls to mention, no driving licence, unable to wander far on my own, an absolute rubbish memory ......

I am proud to say, despite the above, 4 and a half years on I am back at work a couple of days a week, living my life and having fun, im not saying its easy, not for me, not for my family or my friends.  I hide away on my 'bad' days - this worrys them, and ok, I'm not 'back to pre stroke 'normal' but most people realise its just that my normality has changed, those that didnt realise this, or couldnt deal with this are long gone from my life. I but i am getting through my bucket list and setting my self new goals and challenges and achieving most of them.

This is why I'm doing this crazy triatholon with my equally mad friends the little Deb Large and Curly Kate, and my beautiful daughter Lisa. 

Now I know we all all mad, but i do have confidence that they will do this no problem ..... me however, well i do have pretty severe weakness in my left side, so walking is not my strongest point! when I swim, it's a bit strange to say the least, and riding a bike, well this is a challenge I've yet to overcome, quite frankly if somebody is holding the bike I can sit on it, but let go ... Well that's another fall to add to the list! 

SO HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS THEN I HEAR YOU ALL SHOUT? Well I'm going to do this with a little help from my friends .....

Ok, so were not exactly swimming in a lake and running a marathon, actually we are doing it down the gym, possibly in a relay? Definitely with a bike screwed to the floor, a warm pool and for me at least, a very slow treadmill!

ALL I know is do it we will, laughing all the way, because The Stroke Associaton is a cause close to our hearts, they help PEOPLE LIKE ME and our family's PEOPLE LIKE THEM cope when we think all is lost, when we give up hope and when we fall to the floor grieving for our 'old' lives they pick us up gently encouraging us to go on. When the big black cloud lands on your head and you are almost suffocating, along they come with a bit of sunshine and fresh air. 

I guess you can see where I'm coming from now, sorry for waffling on, but this is so important to me, so please, if you can donate, please do, I am living proof that this charity makes a difference.

Thank you all so much, for being there, for putting up with me, for being my friends, loads of love Deb x