Did you know you have only 4 hours to receive treatment before the effect of a stroke can be life threatening, or at best severely disabling.

And a stroke can happen to anyone, any age.

Having just run the GNR the week before, for the 24th time, I was not expecting one!

But it happened on 18th Sept 2017, 4 days into a family holiday in Malta.

The quick reactions of Fiona, Radley and Adam, and the fantastic medical care of the Maltese Health Service, saved my life and has ensured a fantastic recovery.

I was in the hospital, on the operating table within two hours of the stroke, and had a Thrombectomy, a mechanical extraction of two clots which were lodged in an artery stopping blood entering my brain. This type of operation has only just been introduced in the UK, in a limited amount of Stroke Units, so I was very lucky to be in Malta, 20 minutes from the hospital.

Since I have returned, I have had many tests to identify the cause.
However they have not been able to find any reason for my clots. It's just one of those unfortunate events of life.

The Stroke Association do a fantastic job of enlightening the public as to the first signs of a stroke.

Fiona recognised these signs in me and reacted quickly. Would she, had there not been a campaign? Have you see it on TV? FAST
Face Arms Speech Time - to call 999

I have also seen first hand how the Stroke Association support victims of Strokes, particularly when they have been less fortunate than me.

To say thank you to the Stroke Association and all those that directly helped me in our NHS and in Malta, we are raising funds to support more campaigns, to support more specialist facilities in the UK, similar to those I benefited from in Malta, and support those that did not get the treatment within those critical 4 hours, and who now suffer as a result of their stroke.

Please sponsor the Cunliffe Team in running a total of 52 miles in the 2018 Great North Run. It's Adam's 1st run, and Radley's 2nd.