Sean Goodman

I'm taking part in the Brighton Marathon as part of #TeamStroke

I joined #TeamStroke for the Brighton Marathon 2026.

As many of you already know, I suffered a major ischemic stroke on 3rd August 2021, at the age of 30 - too young to have a stroke, right? 

I completely lost my speech and the use of my right side, but thanks to a great bloke from Foxton’s estate agents in Peckham, who put me in his car and took me to hospital, I was pumped full of clot busting drugs within the magic hour, so my lasting effects are fortunately relatively minimal. 

I feel incredibly grateful each and every day for my ability to move, so I will be running for those less fortunate stroke survivors, and to raise awareness around the incidence of strokes in younger people. 1 in 4 strokes happen in people aged 18-60, fewer still in those 30 or under, and 400 strokes happen to children each year.

The key risk factor in mine was a Patent Foram Ovale; a hole in my heart which should have closed shortly after birth, but unfortunately doesn’t in 25% of adults. I learned that you only get tested for this should you experience a stroke or TIA. 

Please do donate whatever you feel comfortable with, and if nothing else, embrace, and feel grateful for, your ability to move each day. 

Think FAST - Face (drooping), Arm (weakness), Speech (slurred), Time (to call an ambulance)

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.