As a number of you will already know, 2025 was a rather extraordinary year for me.

On the morning of 4 April, whilst having breakfast with my two daughters and 9-month-pregnant wife, I rubbed my neck (where it had hurt overnight) - insodoing, it later turned out, dislodging a blood clot that had formed - and promptly had what specialists referred to in time as a ‘massive stroke’. What followed was life-saving brain surgery and five months in various hospitals and dedicated rehab facilities.

In the grand scheme of things - and certainly compared to the many (usually far older) people I shared wards with - I was very lucky: I retained my memories and my ability to talk, and was on my feet - freeing myself from my wheelchair - and taking my first tentative steps after just 10 days. The latter allowed me to practice my walking during the five weeks I spent at Maidstone General and, thanks to the sterling work of the physios at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, by September I had finally increased my pace to a gentle jog on a treadmill.

I’ve had incredible support over the past year, from friends and family, and from a number of charities such as the Stroke Association, Different Strokes and Involve.

Different Strokes, which provides advice and support to working-age victims of stroke, has been of particular help to my family and I, so it’s my goal this year to give something back, and to raise awareness that stroke isn’t just an ‘old person thing’ (in fact, 25% of the 100k stroke victims in the UK each year are under 65).

I always like a challenge to spur myself on  so I have set myself the target of running my old hometown race - the Luxembourg Half Marathon - in May of this year, some 407 days after my initial stroke.

(I had originally intended to run my current hometown race - the Tunbridge Wells Half - in February also; however a surgeon-advised, six-week post-op training hiatus until early Feb, has put paid to that)

 I’ll be doing so in support of Different Strokes and I - and they - would be very grateful for your generosity. I’ve a Just Giving page set up here  [link]- with a total fundraising  target of  £1,500 - which I will keep updated with my training progress on the way. 

Thank you in advance for your support and wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2026 

(Photo in the gallery is of me completing the Tunbridge Wells Half 41 days before my stroke)