Hillingdon P.E teacher takes on the Bupa Great North Run for stroke

Stroke survivor, Peter Banks from Hillingdon will tackle the Bupa Great North Run on Sunday 7 September, to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association, after he had a stroke in 2012.

PE teacher Peter Banks, 31, had a stroke in January 2012. When Peter had his stroke, specialists at the stroke unit quickly treated him and gave him thrombolysis – a clot-busting drug to restore the flow of blood to the brain. He was discharged five days later and after 5 months, he returned to work at Acton High School.

Peter said: “I’d played golf in the morning and was at home sorting through some paperwork when my vision became blurred. I tried rubbing my eyes but it didn’t make any difference. Due to my age and level of fitness, I didn’t know what was happening."

“My girlfriend was at church, so I called my parents in Sheffield. They noticed that my speech was slurred, and while I was on the phone to them I found I was having to think hard to answer even the simplest of questions, my parents realised something was wrong and they dialled 999 for an ambulance.

“While I waited for the ambulance I had my dad on speakerphone, but by this time I’d lost motor control and fallen off the couch, I managed to crawl to the door and open it so the ambulance crew could get in."

A member of staff in a response car and an ambulance crew attended. Using the information given during the phone call from his parents and the FAST test, they suspected that Peter was suffering from a stroke.

Before suffering from his stroke Peter had taken part in half marathons and in 2004 completed the Snowdon Marathon, but this will be the longest distance he has run since his stroke.

He added: “My training has been going well and so far I’ve been running between 4-7 miles 3-4 times a week. I’m planning to step it up even more in August ahead of the run.”

Janet Price, Regional Fundraiser at the Stroke Association, said: “With around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK – that’s around one every three and a half minutes - it is vital that we have people like Peter who can raise funds for people affected by stroke. We’re really grateful to him for taking on this rewarding challenge and look forward to cheering him on as he speeds from Newcastle to South Shields.”

To sponsor Peter, visit www.justgiving.com/Peter-Banks2