On the 30th March 2023, at 23, I suffered a completely unexpected brain bleed - a haemorrhagic stroke. I lost all feeling and coordination on the left side of my body, and found my vision suddenly reduced.

At first, I was too weak to turn my head on the pillow, or to swallow, or to hold a proper conversation. It was terrifying, and I didn't know if I'd recover. I found it hard to understand what a stroke was, let alone how one had happened to me.

I was lucky to receive brilliant care as an inpatient at the Royal London HASU ward. I was there for 5 weeks, before the lovely team there got sick of me, and then I was discharged home to continue daily physical therapy.

In the months (and years!) to come, it would be the emotional and mental impact of my stroke I'd find hardest. I had previously been so independent and had taken so much pride in my job and busy life. But all at once, my friends were taking turns to help me make my meals, or to get in and out of the bath.

It's been a long journey over the last two years, and hard. But I've been incredibly lucky with the support I've received. I've been fortunate to regain most of my stamina and almost all my coordination. I can walk and talk and maybe not tie my own shoelaces - yet - but I can swim.

For my second Strokeversary, I'm going to be swimming 20.5 miles: the width of the English Channel. Over the month of March, and with friends helping out, and not in the Channel, so as to not get too cold.

I'm raising money for the Stroke Association, the largest UK stroke charity, funding research, prevention, support and rehabilitation for stroke. I've been working for the Stroke Association since October and feel very privileged to be a part of their mission.

Stroke is a lot more common that I'd ever realised, and it can happen to anyone. When it does, the impact is devastating, all the more so for being unexpected. Life after stroke is bizarre, and gruelling, and lonely.

Please consider donating toward my fundraiser, or following along on instagram @getagrip_pel - there will be updates. We're aiming to raise £1,000 next month, money that will go toward supporting the 1.4m stroke survivors currently living in the UK; providing practical and emotional support; influencing policy to ensure vital stroke services are accessible and consistent. Good stuff, you know.

A few practical examples of how your money will make a difference:

• £150 could help run a long-term communication support group, empowering stroke survivors to achieve the best possible level of communication, improving confidence and supporting with independence.

• £250 could pay for one hour of Helpline activity, helping the families of stroke survivors support their loved ones after stroke.

• £300 could pay for an MRI scan that can help us better understand the brain of those affected by stroke

UPDATE:

I've only just worked out how to do updates on here: BUT I'm in the last week of my challenge and absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who's donated!

I'm 860 lengths down (with more than a few of those kindly 'donated') and have a big final swim planned for Sunday, my Strokeversary itself.

Thank you so much for supporting me and the fab work of the Stroke Association. 💜