On 17th February 2022, Mum found my dad collapsed upstairs, she called for an ambulance straight away, and Keely and I made our way home from work. Dad then deteriorated in front of paramedics, and we now know this was due to him having a severe right sided ischaemic stroke. 

After being administered 'clot busting' drugs at Southend Resus, he was taken on blues to Royal London for a 'Thrombectomy,' which aims to remove blood clots and restore blood flow to the brain. Covid rules were still in place at the time, so none of us were allowed to travel with Dad. 

I eventually got through to someone that evening who advised the surgery had gone well and Dad was in a recovery ward; the trains weren't running due to Storm Eunice, so the following day Mum and I had a somewhat hairy drive into London to see him. Dad spent a further 2 weeks back at Southend, which he found a very difficult and confusing time.

Strokes have the devastating ability to change a persons life instantly, and are a leading cause of disability. Stroke research is underfunded in comparison to other life-changing conditions, yet there are over a million stroke survivors in the UK, such is there prevalence. (https://www.stroke.org.uk/research/research-publications/research-spend-uk)

It was only in late 2017 that the thrombectomy procedure Dad had was commissioned by the NHS, its proven to significantly improve disability free survival and limit brain damage, but is only available in specific circumstances. Dad is a living success story of this modern procedure, he can still talk and walk short distances without his wheelchair. (https://www.england.nhs.uk/2017/04/stroke-patients-in-england-set-to-receive-revolutionary-new-treatment/) 

The rest of 2022 had its ups and downs, but Dad made it to Christmas, retained his collection of terrible (but funny) jokes, told us how much we meant to him, and I feel very lucky he wasn't taken from us that day; to drink more tea together, talk about his life and experiences, life's struggles and joys, and just be with him a little while longer.

I hope my set of fundraising challenges is enough to persuade you to part with a few hard-earned quid, so the Stroke Associations research and care can continue. 

P - Par challenge - 365 par or better golf holes.

A - Abstain from alcohol all year.

T - Tennis Marathon (14 hours aiming for 26 sets to be played).

R - 'Roots Run' between Dads childhood homes in East Ham & Westcliff. 

I - Ironman Austria (18.06.2023)

C - Community work - soon to start working in a local charity shop.

K - Kids set the challenge - each of Dads beloved grandchildren to set me an extra challenge! 

Thank you very much for reading our story and supporting my fundraiser.