This year me and my sister have set the challenge of running our first ever 10k under an hour in order to raise money for a cause that is very close to our family hearts…the Stroke Association.

Our Dad suffered a stroke at an early age of 44 whilst at work which resulted in full paralysis on his left hand side. We were completely devastated to see our dad laying in the hospital bed not being able to move or communicate but one day he managed to move his toe which gave us some hope. Dad spent the next 6 months in rehabilitation care where the medical team worked hard on his recovery and as a result he regained the ability to walk, speak and adjust to using his right arm. We are ever so grateful to the team at Cookridge (Ida) Hospital for all that they did for him. Their hard work helped dad regain his independence as he returned to driving and his work as a Postal Sorter. We were incredibly proud of dad and he was an inspiration to us all as he never gave up, remained positive & determined from the day he was admitted into hospital and then throughout the years.

Although dad had regained some limited movement in his left arm, he fully relied on his right arm to do everything. He medically retired in 2005 to prevent him from further damaging his right arm due to the extra wear & tear it had to endure over the years. Dad enjoyed life and never let his condition prevent him from doing the things he enjoyed or wanted to do. He spent his retirement pottering around the garden, doing DIY, enjoying many holidays and spending quality time with his family which meant the world to him.

Over the years, dad developed other health conditions & had a further number of minor strokes which resulted in slurred speech, swallowing issues and weakening of his body overall. It was heartbreaking to see his inner strength gradually declining and although we tried our very best to keep him motivated and positive, he was starting to really struggle with his own body which he had to manage & cope with for 25 years. Sadly our beloved dad passed away on 20th November 2018.

Dad was the centre of our world & losing him has been devastating for us as a family. He was the most fun loving, genuine, kind & caring person we know and his positive outlook on life was an inspiration to us all. He had the most infectious smile…a smile that would instantly light up the room. We miss him immensely but we take comfort in knowing that dad managed to enjoy & live a fulfilled life.

It is so important for stroke survivors to receive support to keep them motivated and independent as much as possible. The Stroke Association supports this as they believe that everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. Your support will help them to provide vital services, campaign for better stroke care and fund research into preventative and rehabilitative treatments. Please help us raise as much as possible to help rebuild lives after stroke & in memory of our loving father - thank you!

Love Ajay & Bhavna xx