23rd May 2012 - My late cousin Michelle's birthday.                                     I drove from Sheffield, England, 1000 miles through France, Belgium and Holland to reach Wolfsburg in Germany,  home to Volkswagen and the amazing AUTOSTADT mobility theme park.

27th May 2012 - Marathon completed in 6 hours 45 min as i managed back, ribs and leg injuries.

29th May 2012 - Arrived in North west of England to wish my father a Happy Birthday by his bed side.

Dad was left  severely disabled  and bed bound by several strokes he's survived over the past 11 years.

Inspired by my late cousin Michelle, I decided to use a wheelchair mobility Volkswagen Caddy to help raise awareness and cash for the UK's Stroke Association, to help the fight for a world with fewer strokes.

It's been awful watching dad suffer and slowly deteriorate.

Stroke Association are at the forefront of stroke research and support and it was they who devised The Face, Arms, Speech Test (FAST) to help us recognise the symptoms of a stroke.

www.stroke.org.uk

Recycled cooking oil was donated by Uptown Biodiesel in London and friends so i could drive my rare VW to the home of the German brand, of which I have a passion for, having owned many different models.

I managed to gain many sponsors who either donated cash directly to Stroke Association or parts and labour, or both, to help make my old van road worthy for the trip. This support afforded sponsors their logos on the vehicle, which has appeared in several magazines and also ITV News.

It was a epic undertaking by all and a massive personal challenge for me on many levels.

Upon my return I suffered terrible fatigue which took many months to recover from. The journey to me was to symbolise the struggle it can be for a stroke survivor.

Since my recovery I have continued to use the Caddy at various events and also covered thousands of miles collected and delivering donated household goods for the UK's first officially backed Stroke Association charity shop in Sheffield, my home town.

Watch the Video:

I hope you can spare some cash to help reduce the effects that the worlds biggest cause of adult disability has on us.

Stroke can happen to anyone of us at any age and the after care and research requires much needed funding.

Thanks

Jay

www.fastjay.co.uk