So, last year had to run the virtual London Marathon due to Covid so am really hoping it goes ahead this year.  Luckily The Stroke Association were able to carry over my place as am not getting any younger and need to run this marathon for mum.

In October 2018, in the blink of an eye my life, and more importantly my parents' lives were changed forever.  On Monday 22nd October 2018 my mum suffered a stroke which completely changed all our lives.  The main photograph on this page was the last night I had with mum before the stroke - Alexandra's 18th and it was an amazing night.

Mum was completely paralysed on her right side, and had no body strength and was completely unable to get out of bed without the assistance of a hoist.  She could not walk or eat normally and her life was completely dependant completely on my dad who was at that time 84 years old. 

Mum had carers visit four times per day and we can only think this was where she caught Covid.  On 23rd April 2020 mum left her home for the last night - her very last words as they put her into the ambulance were "look after dad" - still thinking of others as she always did.  I was not able to see her again after this day and only had a FaceTime call that the wonderful nurses at Basilton hospital arranged for me.  Mum could not speak at all but I just hope she heard me telling her that I would look after dad and that I loved her.

Mum passed away on 1st May 2021 and although the death certificate said Covid I know she would still be here today if she had not had the stroke.  

It is hard for me to remember mum as she was before the stroke as it changed her so much physically and mentally.  This charity is so important as so many people are unaware of so many things .....

There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, that is around one stroke every five minutes.  There are over 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK.  Every two seconds someone in the world will have a stroke.  Stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the UK.  More than 400 children have a stroke every year in the UK.

This is why we need to raise money for this fantastic charity, my eyes were completely opened when mum was taken ill and awareness is key.  We always think it is older people who suffer stroke but since my mum I have read so many stories from people of all ages and it has completely changed their lives.

Thank you for reading, I hope you can donate to my page.