Tanya Bates Ford

I'm taking part in the Berlin Marathon 2026 as part of #TeamStroke

This September, I’ll be running the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon in aid of the Stroke Association, inspired by my Dad.

Next week, it’s my Dad’s 70th birthday! 

In spite of the snow, I managed to fly home this afternoon, and my Dad and I have shared a lovely wintery day together. He greeted me at the airport, drove me to the farm where we checked on the donkeys and the sheep, and then we chatted over Guinness, roast turkey and gammon at our local pub. Now we’re sat in front of the fire watching a film, and I’m reflecting on how profoundly different things could’ve been.

Following a stroke in September 2025 and a similar TIA-type episode a few days later, my Dad became one of over 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK - and one of the luckiest ones, at that. 

100,000 strokes happen in the UK each year - that’s one stroke every five minutes. 

Around one third of stroke survivors are left with aphasia (a communication disorder  which affects people’s ability to speak, read, write, or understand language in varying degrees of severity). 

Around two thirds of stroke survivors suffer from a degree of visual impairment immediately after a stroke, and half of these people will continue to have long-term vision issues.

30-50% of stroke survivors experience dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing).

These are only a few examples of how life can look for people after a stroke; there are so many other debilitating physical, cognitive and emotional effects, potential complications and rehabilitation hurdles that stroke survivors face.

My Dad has been incredibly fortunate to have recovered so well, and to have relatively minimal ongoing effects of his stroke - but his outcome could have been so different.

What if there had been less awareness to recognise his signs, any further delay in seeking medical care, reduced resources at our local hospital, or less aftercare and support? That could have meant the difference between my Dad using his limbs normally again, speaking again, eating normally again, seeing again, or surviving at all.

Thankfully, my Dad has been able to resume his normal life for the most part - he can pick me up in his car, enjoy his usual favourite meals without worrying about choking, and can communicate and engage with the world around him in all the ways he wishes to.

I’m so grateful for all the little things my Dad has been able to do and enjoy today. 

To try and turn his frightening and upsetting experiences into something positive and proactive, I’d love to spread awareness about stroke and fundraise for Stroke Association. 

Stroke Association offers specialist support to stroke survivors and their families, funds vital research for preventative care and treatment, and campaigns across Northern Ireland, Scotland and England for much-needed transformation in stroke services.

Over the next nine months, I would hugely appreciate all  your support and any donations you could please spare, to help save and rebuild lives affected by stroke. 

Thank you for reading and lots of love,

Tanya 🤍