When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That's because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It happens every five minutes in the UK and changes lives instantly. The Stroke Association is here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. They believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. And its a team effort to get there.Their specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of amazing people like you.

Our Challenge:  World Stroke Day Thursday 29th October 2020

A 12 hour spinathon between 8am and 8pm

AND an 8 person team distance challenge riding the distance between the furthest northern UK David Lloyd Club and furthest Southern UK David Lloyd Club totalling 946k (118.75k each). 

🌟 Update ... 🌟

World Stroke Day went really well! We smashed the distance challenge between the 8 of us all finishing the distance beween 3.5 and 6 hrs. 🙌 

The day was really well supported by members, staff and David Lloyd and Stroke Association. 

Caroline's Story 

On 17th Jan 2020, I had an Ischemic stroke. I was 37 years old and taught fitness classes as part of my job and have always been fit and healthy.

Whilst teaching a class around 9.15am I had slurred speech. Luckily, members noticed I didn't look well & alerted staff. Around 10.30am my colleague was going to take me home, but after seeming ok for an hour, my speech was slurred again.

A colleague called paramedics. They checked my blood pressure, ECG, asked if I could be pregnant, but my friend & colleague kept saying my speech had been slurred. They did do some stroke assessments but I could do everything & they didn't hear my slurred speech.

They took me to Harrogate Hospital. I had stroke assessments again but could do what they asked. I walked to get a chest x-ray. I spoke to a doctor, explained what had happened - but no symptoms. He said it might have been a TIA (mini stroke). I'd been ill over Christmas with a chest infection which I think is why I had the x-ray. About 1.30pm whilst waiting for a CT scan, they gave me an aspirin. I couldn't drink it. My boyfriend tried to sit me up and that was the point I realised I couldn't hold myself up and couldn't move my left arm or leg.

I was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary. By 4pm I was in surgery having a procedure called thrombectomy which is fairly new. 

I had a complication and surgery took 4.5 hrs. 

My stroke was caused by a spontaneous carotid artery dissection. This is one of biggest causes of stroke in younger people but still very rare. I had no underlying health issues which led to the dissection. They think the virus I had at Christmas & physical activity led to the dissection, which led to a clot building up and moving to my brain.

With a fortunate chain of events and getting to surgery very quickly, I have recovered well. I am physically well and am doing a phased return at work.

If you want to read more of my story, I started a blog which you can view at 

www.chattycaz.com