I have been working on the website, which most of you will know is now live, and I'm trying to update it frequently so please keep checking out www.longestdayrun.com and don't forget to tell your friends. If they're not runners yet then what are they waiting for?!
The other reason which explains the lack of posts is also the reason why I've chosen to raise funds this year for The Stroke Association (www.stroke.org.uk). I wanted to share this with you to help raise awareness of stroke, how to identify it early, and what to do if it happens to you or somebody else.
People who follow me @mazymixer will know that in early February I had a few days away due to a family health matter. I didn't explain publicly at the time what that was, but I want to do so now.
I won't go into all the details, but on the 8th February, my 37 year old wife woke up with weakness in her right arm, leg and slight numbness in the right side of her face. We acted quickly and the fantastic Yorkshire Ambulance Service took her to the Stroke Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. It wasn't until the next day that we were told conclusively that she had actually suffered a mild stroke. I don't know about you, but I knew very little about stroke. However, after she had spent three days in hospital undergoing MRI & CT scans and various ECGs and Ultrasound tests and I'd scoured the internet for as much information as my brain could absorb, I knew much more.
She's ok now (touch wood), other than the need to take precautionary drugs for the rest of her life, and should make a full recovery. It was a very scary experience, and she was one of the lucky ones and we're appreciative for that. It's worth noting that she's in a low risk group: Doesn't smoke, eats well, exercises regularly & drinks in moderation. Many are not so lucky, and the facts below (taken from The Stroke Association website) highlight the sheer scale of this condition:
- An estimated 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK each year.
- Stroke accounts for around 53,000 deaths each year in the UK.
- Stroke is the third most common cause of death in England and Wales, after heart disease and cancer.
- Stroke accounts for 9 per cent of all deaths in men and 13 per cent of deaths in women in the UK.
- At least 450,000 people are severely disabled as a result of stroke in England.
- Stroke costs the economy an estimated £8 billion per year in England alone and it is likely that it costs proportionate amounts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Stroke patients occupy around 20 per cent of all acute hospital beds and 25 per cent of long term beds.
- Stroke units save lives: for stroke patients general wards have a 14 per cent to 25 per cent higher mortality rate than stroke units.
- Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. About 10,000 of these are under retirement age.
The F.A.S.T campaign which has been shown on TV and other media, highlights the key signs to look out for so that timely action may be taken. Further details can be found at: www.stroke.org.uk
I've always tried to use my running to good effect whilst trying not to take too regular advantage of my kind friends and colleagues, and have done many races for charity in recent years. I always like to choose one which is close to my heart, and although I'd rather that stroke hadn't come into our lives, I'm now motivated to give something back to help raise awareness and raise much needed funds to enable the charity to continue their fantastic work.
So, this is my charity for 2012. I'm proud to be running for them and hope that my small efforts and those of others add up to something worthwhile.
I hope that Longest Day Run gives those of you who wish to raise funds for a charity of your choice a great opportunity to encourage sponsors and help you achieve your goals.
Thanks again for reading, and happy running.
Simon
