I was 40 when I had my stroke which came completely out of the blue. I was fit, healthy, didn’t drink or smoke but I was very stressed out at the time.

I woke up on 17th September 2023 with a dull headache but just took some paracetamol and got on with it. I had a horse riding lesson in the afternoon and had just started trotting round the indoor school when I suddenly felt a wave of pins and needles down the left side of my body. I told my instructor who thought that wasn’t right and that I should go to hospital. I was then aware of weakness in my left side as I couldn’t get off the horse on my own. I just remember feeling weird and breathing heavier than normal, it had never occurred to me that I was having a stroke. I didn’t feel scared as I don’t think I was consciously aware of what was going on or the full extent of my symptoms at that stage. I remember thinking this is so weird as I didn’t feel any pain but had lost control of the left side of my body. My instructor helped me off the horse and sat me on the mounting block outside the school to wait for another instructor to bring her car round, they had called an ambulance but it was going to take 2 hours so they decided to take me in the car which I am very thankful for. I was sick all the way to the hospital I think due to the fact that I had lost my left peripheral vision in both eyes but I was unaware of this at the time. I don't really remember much about resus just telling the people who were treating me there was no need to cut my riding clothes off as they were expensive and I hadnt broken anything. I guess at least I didn't lose me in all of this, i have always had a cheeky nature which I do cut quite close to the mark sometimes, I think having a stroke may have made me even more blunt and to the point but I like to have fun, ask any of the doctors and therapists that have treated me, they will have got it in the ear at some point or been made to compete against me.

Stroke recovery is an absolute rollercoaster, you go from one extreme to the other but have to be kind to yourself and allow yourself to grieve the old you, if you have permanent limitations. I am one of the lucky ones to have survived my stroke although I didn’t used to be able to say this as I didn’t feel lucky to have had a stroke at 40.

After my stroke I had to re learn how to walk and train my brain to move my body the way it is supposed to. I am a very determined person who will not be told I can not do something. This determination has driven me to challenge myself to get as much of my old life back as possible.

Thankfully most of my vision has returned so I have been able to return to driving. I still have physical limitations with control, high muscle tone, areas of my left side which feel like cement and sensations which get worse if I am tired, emotional or stressed but to look at me you wouldn’t realise there was anything wrong with me. With the help of my family, friends, coaches and therapists, who have provided tremendous support, I have been able to return to cycling, boxing, horse riding and running. Which leads me onto why I am running for different strokes, to raise money for a fantastic charity, challenge myself, raise awareness and inspire other survivors.

Different Strokes is a small national charity supporting working age and younger stroke survivors. They work to support thousands of families impacted by stroke every year. The majority of staff and trustees are stroke survivors themselves or have a close personal connection to stroke.

The services they provide enable younger stroke survivors to reclaim their lives through active peer support.

Thank you for supporting me and Different Strokes with your donation.