Elliott Shiels

I'm taking part in the Great North Run 2025 as part of #TeamStroke

It's been 10 years since my stroke and not a day goes by that I don't think about it. 

Hang on? What? You!?! A Stroke?!?! But you look fine. 

Shocking, isn’t it? You would never have known unless I told you. 

Here’s my story; 

On Thursday 18th June 2015, I had a Stroke. 

A pretty bad one which caused me to lose a good chunk of my eyesight. My left peripheral vision to be exact. 

After a series of MRI scans, heart tests & many bottles of blood taken, the doctors discovered that I had a hole in my heart that was pumping too much blood around my body. 

Basic Biology lesson. 

The heart pumps out oxygenated blood and takes deoxygenated blood in. The hole in my heart ultimately was sending too much blood around my body, causing a block in one of the main arteries in my neck, cutting off the oxygen to my brain. 

Now, I was asleep at the time. And had I not woke up… I could have died. 

Fortunately, that’s not the case. 

So, this year I will be 35. 

I am a stroke survivor. 

Over the years I’ve tried to do as much as I can to show support for the Stroke Association, because as mad as it sounds, I’m one of the lucky ones. It’s my belief that I need to do what I can to help spread the word and raise as much as possible. 

It's even more personal now as a few years back I lost my Grandad to a Stroke too. 

Anyway, here’s where you can help. 

For my 10^th Strokeaversary… which is totally a thing, and to honour my Grandad, I’m hoping to run my fastest ever half marathon yet in the Great North Run. 

For those that don’t know who the hell I am, huge Geordie over here. 

MAGS. SHEARER. GREGGS. STOTTI’S. BROON ALE. 

Wey Aye Man.  

So, running through my hometown could not be sweeter for this. 

The time to beat… 1:50:00 

I’m hoping to smash my time as well as my donation target.

Now, I know this is insane to just drop this bit of info. 

I’m fine. I have overcome so much, both physically & mentally. The anxiety alone. Therapy is amazing, go do that. I have an amazing support group of family & friends. And every day is a victory for me. I survived a stroke. How class is that? 

So, please if you can, give generously.

Cheers 

Ell