In October 2020 I signed up for the COVID vaccine trials. I wasn't a hero: I did it because the trials were in Cardiff, and two of my sons live there. It was pure luck that I saw the advert because I think it saved my life. 

When I turned up to start, they gave me a medical. I knew I was a bit overweight but I went to the gym (until lockdown) and I felt very fit - I was 56. They weighed me, and I was horrified that I weighed 95kg. Then they took my blood pressure. She looked worried and took it again. And again. Then she said, "your blood pressure is 240/126." 

That level of blood pressure is what is called "a hypertensive crisis" and it was only with reluctance that she didn't call an ambulance. I was shell-shocked. I felt fine. I frantically googled, and thought. My sister has hypertension, as did my father. My uncle had a stroke when he was under 60. My grandmother died of a stroke at about my age. My grandfather had had cardiac arrests all his life. Why was I surprised that this had happened to me? 

Worse - it hadn't just HAPPENED to me. I had done it to myself - eating the wrong things, not getting checked, convincing myself that I was just a bit chubby, not obese - my BMI was 36. 

I called my doctor and over the coming two days confirmed - this was not a blip. This was a serious crisis.You know those moments in your life where nothing will ever be the same again? This was one of them. 

Since then, I have turned my life around. 

I went on an immediate diet. With the motivation of "I could die, I could suffer a stroke, if I don't change", losing weight had never been so easy. I got some weights and began working out in the garage (which became my gym); we doubled the dog walking. I cut sugar, fat and salt out of my diet.

By January I had lost 15kg, and I could walk up hills that I had had to stop on. I decided I needed to take up running, so I started Couch to 5K. If you have ever thought of doing it - do. The first run I did, I thought the voice in the podcast had forgotten to tell me to stop - she had promised to say when I had done 30 seconds of running, so why was I still running when I was exhausted? She hadn't forgotten, it was just hell on earth. 30 seconds of running was all I could do. But it got easier, and in 8 weeks I could run 5k. 

In June, I took up sprint triathlons. It isn't really a sprint, because I am 57. But I am doing them twice a week. That's a 400m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 4km run. And now I am trying this 10K. It will be tough, because I have foot issues (caused by years of being overweight - don't kid yourself that it doesn't affect you... it does!) and I may well limp the last 3k. But I will do it. 

So why The Stroke Association? Because one of the biggest risks of hypertension is a stroke. But for that lucky break, that could have been me. I now have my blood pressure under control, with medication, and I have lost 27kg. I am incredibly lucky because I don't appear to have suffered any long term ill effects. But many others don't get that lucky break. I am running for those people, to help those people recover and to help work out how to prevent these devastating events. 

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. Life changes instantly and recovery is tough. But the brain can adapt. The Stroke Association's specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community. With more donations and support from you, we can rebuild even more lives.