In April 2005, My dad (43 at the time) was taking part in a fitness competition called Superstars, where he was competing in a wide range of events and challenging himself, as you can imagine he was a very fit man. 

On the penultimate event the indoor cycle, he came off the bike and complained that his leg had gone and felt like he was getting cramp. It forced him out of the competition but my mum and I weren't too concerned about it. 

On returning home, the Leisure centre physio's had recommended that he have a cool bath to relax and loosen off his leg. He had a bath and it was only when he tried to lift himself out of the bath did we start to think this could be something a lot more serious. He couldn't physically lift himself out of the bath, he didn't have the strength. Me and my mum managed to get him to the bedroom for him to get changed and all I remember is him falling off the bed. He couldn't keep himself up straight. This was definitely alarm bells for my mum and she quickly called some good family friends of ours to help get him to some help. 

Luckily, as soon as they took him to the local out of hours GP, they could see straight away that he had suffered a stroke and he was taken in to emergency care. 

My dad was put in intensive care and transferred to Oxford Hospital, where they closely monitored him. He was in hospital for around 6 weeks and had to learn how to walk/ talk and do all of the everyday things we take for granted again. 

We are so lucky that he has managed to make a good recovery, but for so many other people its not the same and more recently I lost my old swimming coach and a very close friend of mine in November. 

I want to help raise awareness for the Stroke association and to help give people the best chance of surviving. 

Don't forget to act F.A.S.T

Face- Has the face drooped?

Arm- Can you lift your arm?

Speech- Is it Slurred?

Time- Now is the time to ACT!

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