When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That happened to me on 24 March 2018. Completely unexpected.

With the most amazing support from my family and friends (especially my parents ♥️), and the fabulous NHS staff in Stobhill and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals in Glasgow, I spent months in rehab relearning how to use the right side of my body again. And whilst I still live every day with the long term impacts, I was extremely lucky to have a support network that helped me through this. The level of recovery I managed is directly attributed to the rehab and support I received.

Not everyone is as lucky, and as well as funding much needed research into Stroke prevention and rehabilitation, the Stroke Association helps support people as they rebuild their lives.

So across the 31 days in May I will be doing 31 minutes of exercise a day. This will vary from walks, to weights, to squats, to stretching.

Life changes instantly with stroke and recovery is tough. But the brain can adapt. The Stroke Association's specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with your donations. And with more donations and support from you, they can help rebuild even more lives.