Paul is my younger brother & we have been going to Town games together for 43 years! Paul is 49 & prior to his collapse he was fit & healthy. Paul suffered a severe stroke at the Huddersfield vs Sheff Utd game on 04/05/23. This happened in the Cowshed just before kick off. It came out of the blue & has been a big shock to Paul, his family & friends. We are thankful Paul received an amazing, swift response from everyone that evening - fans & friends around us, the stewards, the staff of Huddersfield Town, the medical volunteers & paramedics based at the stadium, ambulance staff & those at Calderdale Royal Hospital Stroke Unit. Paul received anti-coagulant drugs within 90 mins of his collapse, which is very quick if you bear in mind he was transferred from the stadium to Halifax, where the Acute Stroke Unit is located for all patients in Calderdale and Huddersfield.

Following further tests it has been confirmed that the stroke was caused by a blood clot which was caused by an internal dissection (tear) of his right carotid artery in his neck. It can happen to anyone at any time due to a weakness in the artery or by an incident such as a fall, whiplash injury or bang to the head. As far as we know none of these incidents happened prior to his collapse. He told his Son the week before the stroke that he had a migraine with some vision distortion on the right side, which we now know are symptoms of an artery dissection. Paul is keen to raise awareness of this, so that others may recognise these symptoms and seek medical attention before the blood clot causes a stroke.

Paul spent over 9 weeks in hospital and was recently discharged home and into the care of the local Reablement Service for further care and therapy. It is too early to know whether Paul will suffer any long term effects.

Paul is raising funds for the Calderdale Hospital Stroke Rehabilitation Team (physios, speech therapists & occupational health therapists) who are helping him daily with his recovery and also help many patients from Calderdale & Huddersfield who are unlucky enough to suffer a stroke. They would like to purchase equipment so they can provide Mirror Box & FES Functional electrical stimulation therapy to their patients.

Thank you