A brave stroke survivor from Knaresborough took part in the Knaresborough Fun Run on Sunday 11 May and raised over £1,400 for the Stroke Association in the process.
Shirley Holden, 60, completed the 2.5 mile fun run at King James’s School which coincided with Action on Stroke Month and marked the incredible progress she has made on her road to recovery.
Shirley had a stroke in 2009, four days after her 56th birthday. She spent six weeks in Harrogate District Hospital as the stroke affected the entire right side of her body and the vision in her left eye.
Shirley had daily physiotherapy to re-learn how to walk, write and even feed herself. By the time she was discharged, she could walk short distances with a stick, although was still heavily reliant on a wheelchair. Almost five years on, Shirley’s recovery continues.
Shirley said: Taking part in the Knaresborough Fun Run was a real milestone and shows just how far I’ve come. I’ve been overwhelmed by all the support, with local businesses Dragonfly Cards and Gifts, McQueen’s Coffee Shop and Knaresborough Cricket Club kindly helping me to promote the run. My family, friends and the public have been incredibly generous – I’ve even received donations from as far away as Australia, Cyprus and Chile!
Mahalia France-Mir, Regional Fundraiser at the Stroke Association, said: Shirley is a real inspiration and seeing her challenge herself is testament to how far she has come. She is proof that there is life after stroke and we’re extremely grateful for all her support and enthusiasm.
There are around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK – that’s one every three and a half minutes. It’s vital that people like Shirley are raising funds and awareness to ensure we can be there for even more families affected by stroke.
Action on Stroke Month 2014 is supported by Legal & General. To find out more, please visit www.stroke.org.uk/strokemonth
