Press release -
Banbury man warned he may never walk again is now running a marathon
A Banbury man who was warned he may never be able to walk or talk again after he had a stroke is about to face his biggest challenge – running a 26.2 mile marathon.
Will Brooks, 52, will be tackling the Shakespeare Marathon around Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday, 21 April, to raise funds for the Stroke Association.
Will, a keen and fit runner, was at home working in July 2020, when he realised his right arm was dead. After his wife, Carrie, called for an ambulance, she and her daughter Chloe recognised the signs of stroke.
Will said: “It was amazing how fast they had me on a stretcher and travelling to hospital. The news from the hospital was not good and there was a chance that I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk properly again. It was so worrying for me and my family.”
When Will woke, he was very tired and unable to speak properly, only being able to say the word, “yes”. Thankfully though the effect of his stroke wasn’t as severe as first feared, although he has been left with memory, speech and emotional difficulties which can be common after a stroke.
Will’s love of running, the support from his family, the NHS and the Stroke Association, have helped him rebuild his life.
“People were really shocked when I had a stroke as I was so fit and healthy – always running and previously playing rugby,” said Will.
His stroke was caused by atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart which can travel to the brain and cause a blockage. A heart operation in September 2022 corrected this.
“Running was important to me,” said Will. “Getting out of the house was great, and the dog really helped me as I started my recovery. I have run a couple of half-marathons since having the stroke; however, running a marathon will be much harder!”
Supporters have so far pledged more than £300 through Will’s JustGiving page.
Julia Shepherd, from the Stroke Association’s fundraising team, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Will for taking on the challenge of the Shakespeare Marathon.
“Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. It can strike anyone – young, old and anyone in between. The Stroke Association is here to fund research and support people to rebuild their lives after stroke, but this is only possible with the efforts of our amazing supporters such as Will.
“We’d like to wish Will and everyone else who is running to raise funds for charities the best of luck!”
The Stroke Association is the UK’s biggest charity dedicated to stroke and its Oxfordshire Stroke Recovery Service supports stroke survivors and their families in the county, helping them to rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of readmission to hospital.
To find out more, visit the Stroke Association website www.stroke.org.uk, call 01865 771624 or email oxfordshire@stroke.org.uk.
The full address of Will’s JustGiving page is https://www.justgiving.com/page/will-brooks-1701683274588
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- Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.
- The Stroke Association is a charity working across the UK to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe that everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. From local support services and groups, to online information and support, anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100 to find out about support available locally.
- Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters. With more donations and support, we can help rebuild even more lives.
- You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
