I'm taking part in the TCS London Marathon as part of #TeamStroke
As many people may be aware, 5 years ago today I was rushed into hospital, unconscious, suffering from a Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis. This is a rare form of stroke caused by a build up of blood clots on and around the brain, and mainly affects young women. As with any form of stroke, this condition can be fatal, and if it wasn’t for my quick diagnosis, I may not have been so lucky. It is only thanks to the treatment I received in hospital that I made a miraculous full recovery.
Despite the potential prognosis, research around this specific condition is limited and the symptoms are not widely known. Throughout the 8 months leading up to my hospitalisation, I was experiencing what I believed to be stress-induced migraines, which turned out to be a series of mini-strokes not serious enough to impact my consciousness. However, on the 30th March 2020, not long after the start of the pandemic, I fell unconscious in my sleep and was rushed into hospital before being induced into a coma for 36 hours. I spent 2 more days on the intensive care ward at Newcastle’s RVI, then a further 8 days on the neurology ward there. I left the hospital very weak, barely able to walk, and subsequently spent several weeks recovering at home following a strict course of blood thinners for the next 6 months. Scarily, I can remember nothing between falling asleep on the 30th and waking up two days later in a hospital bed.
Thanks to the research carried out by charities like The Stroke Association, these conditions are becoming better researched and more widely known. That said, most people still consider strokes a condition reserved for the older generations, rather than something that might affect fit and healthy young people. I wish I hadn’t shared this idea before my diagnosis and I can’t stress it enough how important it is for everyone to be familiar with key risk factors, signs and symptoms associated with thrombosis.
The Stroke Association provides specialist support, funds critical research and campaigns to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives. Although I made a full recovery, there are others who are not so lucky and continue to live with the after effects of a stroke for the rest of their lives and it is them that I want to support.
So, as a celebration of 5 years post-hospitalisation, I will be running the London Marathon on the 27th April, not only to show how far I’ve come since then, but also to show my support and gratitude for the amazing work and research of The Stroke Association, supporting them to help save the lives of many others like me and raise awareness for these terrifying conditions.
My avid Strava following will know that I’ve been reasonably committed to my training so far and coming into the last 4 weeks, I’m excited to see what I can do on the day! The remainder of my training will also be tracked on Strava and I would be hugely appreciative of any support that you can give, no matter how small - it all counts for something!
Thank you xx
I'm joining #TeamStroke for the TCS London Marathon 2025!
My Achievements
Fundraising page set up
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Reached fundraising target
Thank you to my sponsors
£53.32
Jane Chalmers
£53.32
David Metcalf
Good luck with the run Abigail!! We're all be rooting for you at the Curry Club!!
£53.32
Grandma Thomson
Lots of love
£50
Christopher Bartlett
I am sure you will smash it on the day.
£50
Fred Wyrley Birch
£50
Mark & Sarah Baldwin
Good luck Abi !!
£31.51
Alex
Good luck!! Can't wait to cheer you on
£27.05
Dianne Johnson
Good luck Abigail
£27.05
Catherine Michael
£27.05
Claire Morgan
Will look for you on the TV Well done 👍
£27.05
Brent
Good luck! Thank you for sharing your story so others can be better informed and to raise funds for research
£27.05
Jenny Ludman
Well done Abi 👏👏
£27.05
Zoe Lewis
Good luck Abi absolute legend!! So proud and impressed by you xx
£27.05
Helen Sanderson
Good luck Abigail...you'll smash it!
£26.45
Michelle Russell
£26.45
Lynne Longstaff
You're amazing Abigail. Good luck. I'm sure you'll smash it!
£25
George & Holly
Marathon (on a Sunday!)
£25
S + J Thomson
So proud of you! Go girl!
£25
Krupaa V
Best of Luck Abi, you’re going to smash it!! xxx
£21.84
Rayfield’s
Best of luck Abigail - from The Rayfield’s
£21.84
Katherine Brooker
£21.84
Lyn
£21.84
Molly Sykes
Go abi!!
£21.84
Molly Garner
Good luck!! You’ll smash it 🍀
£21.84
Caroline Freeman
Really great effort, Abigail, and congratulations too on excellent explanation of why you’re fundraising….
£21.84
Connor & Denise
Good luck Abi! You’ll smash it
£21.84
Dennis Hunter
You are amazing 🤩
£21.84
Rebecca Grant
wooooohoooo go Abi, good luck!!
£21.84
Wendy Baynes
Good luck Abigail x
£21.84
Vivian Thomson
From Bill And Moira Short
£20
Imi Killen
Go on Abi! So proud of u & such a worthy cause 💜
£16.56
Claire Pollock
£16.56
Lexi
I had no idea Abi, but very happy you’re here today! I know you’re going to smash the marathon just like all those 2ks!
£16.56
Sonia Watkinson
You are an inspiration to us all Abigail! Good luck in the Marathon, hope it's a blast!
£15
Bethany Hickling
Good luck, and hope you enjoy it! 😊
£11.33
Annabel Kershaw
Good Luck x
£11.33
Kate Jackson
What a wonderful way to mark 5 years ! Such an inspiration Enjoy the day - take it all in - there is nothing quite like it (so I’m told) Kate , Mads and Alex
£11.33
Rhiannon Robinson
Go Abigail! We are with you all the way. The Robinsons xxx
£11.33
Cathy Graham
£11.33
Helen Stott
Good luck Abigail!
£11.33
Louise Chicken
Wow can’t believe it’s 5 years and your running a marathon fantastic achievement
£11.33
Susan Smith
Good luck Abigail, such a good cause to support Love from Sue, a former colleague of your mum
£11.33
Hannah Coleman
Come on Abs!! Enjoy it my friend- I am so lucky to have you xxx
£11.33
Miranda Howat
£11.33
Francesca Harrison
£11.33
Zoë Hardy
£11.33
Stephanie K
Good luck x
£11.33
Jane Tyler
£11.33
Anji
You’re an inspiration!
£11.33
Anonymous
£11.33
Jonathan Clare
£11.33
Jo Allen
£11.33
Ellen
£11.09
Alex Newton
£11.09
Anonymous
£10
Hannah Murphy
Amazing Abigail, hope you love every minute!
£10
Anonymous
£10
Megan Elson
Go and smash it Abi - will be sending love and support from France!
£10
Joseph O’donnell
Best of luck, run like the wind!
£10
Lucy Booth
Good luck Abi !!! X
£6.11
Ames Blakey—hevey
£5.99
Rachel Wood
You are amazing Abi!!!
£5
Serena Thomson
Good luck Abigail! You are going to smash it💪🏼🏃🏽♀️
£5
Good luck Abigail. You are amazing