Catrin Hobbs

I ama taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon 2026 part of #TeamStroke

I joined #TeamStroke for the Cardiff Half Marathon 2026

As some of you already know, on the 10th of October 2025, I was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital after what appeared to be a stroke. After numerous tests and five days in hospital, I was told I had suffered a stroke mimic. These can be caused by several things — migraines, stress, or a travelling clot — which is what they believe happened in my case. They display the same symptoms as a stroke and can have a similar impact on your body and brain. Following further tests a hole was detected in my heart (a common one so nothing to worry about). 

It was a frightening experience and one I wouldn’t want to go through again. The care and treatment I received were absolutely outstanding, and I feel incredibly lucky.

To help ensure others continue to receive the same level of care and support, I’ll be lacing up my trainers and taking on the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds for this truly deserving cause.

There are over 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK, with 100,000 strokes happening in the UK each year. That's one stroke every five minutes.

We're here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke, so we work with the stroke community to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support. We rely on your support to provide vital services, campaign for better stroke care and fund research into preventative and rehabilitative treatments.