Victoria Bird

Sunday, 13th October I'm taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon as part of #TeamStroke

I am delighted to announce that I have joined #TeamStroke for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London on Sunday, 13th October 2024.

There are over 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, with 100,000 strokes happening in the UK each year. That's one stroke every five minutes and sadly my Brother and my Mum are in those statistics.

On 10th September 2023 my Brother, Andrew, suffered a stroke.  At the age of then, 57, too young, it doesn’t happen to someone so young, with life ahead, dreams to fulfill but it does.  Andrew was taken immediately to hospital where he stayed for just over 3 months receiving excellent care and guidance in rebuilding his life.  Andrew slowly had to regain his strength, his courage, his ability to do basic life skills while battling with fatigue and cognitive damage to his brain…… it has been a long journey on the road of recovery for him but one, over a year on, small improvements are being made and it is so lovely to see. 

I mentioned also my Mum, my lovely Mummy, at the age of 85 on 19th February this year suffered a stroke right next to me while I was driving my car.  I have no words to really explain just how quickly I witnessed the stroke take over, click your fingers, that quick and her body felt the impact.  I saw her face, her posture, her mouth fall instantly, her speech was so slurred it was hard to understand but I knew in an instant what was happening and acted.

I am not writing this post for sympathy or “Poor Vicky” I  writing it to share, make people aware, of just how very quickly a stroke can happen and how devastating it can be but the care that both my Brother and my Mummy received from the hospital, Queens in Romford (both were admitted to the same ward so that was a bit surreal) was beyond amazing and to The Stroke Association.

I am running The Royal Parks Half Marathon in the morning, yes, the morning, Sunday, 13th October to try and give back a tiny bit if I can to The Stroke Association who have been amazing to my Brother, my Mum and Me.  I too have received phone calls checking in on me and making sure that I am ok, coping, managing and showing me that they are there, can help, will help if I, we, needed and this is my way of saying “Thank You”.

The Stroje Association are here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. They 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. They rely on your support to provide vital services, campaign for better stroke care and fund research into preventative and rehabilitative treatments.

Thank you for taking the time to read my page and please, do not feel you are pressured in any way to donate but this one is personal to me so every penny in will really help……… Thank You! 

All my love….. Vicky xx xx xx