Press release -
Cromwell runner goes the extra mile for the Stroke Association
A grandmother from Cromwell is taking on the Great North Run on Sunday 11 September to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.
A mother of three and grandmother of four, Betty Shepherd, 65, was inspired to sign up to the run after her brother-in-law, John Morgan, had a stroke. John had a stroke in May 2013 aged 65, not long after he’d retired.
Betty said: “John’s stroke was completely out of the blue because he was a fit and healthy man. He was looking forward to his retirement and spending lots of time with his grandson. Sadly, the stroke took all the movement on his left side and it has limited his ability to do everyday tasks that we take for granted.
“I’m very proud of him for the progress he’s made in regaining some movement. John’s immediate family has had wonderful support from the Stroke Association so I’m keen to raise funds to help other families get the support they need.
“I love sport of any kind and have always dabbled in a bit of running and other sports. I'm currently trying to do four to five mile runs to build up my speed, but I’m pleased with my training so far and really looking forward to the experience of doing my first Great North Run.”
Dave Shearer, Events Officer at the Stroke Association, said: “There are around 1.2 million people in the UK today living with the impact of stroke, so it’s vital that we have people like Betty who can raise funds for people affected by stroke. We really appreciate all of Betty’s support and we look forward to cheering her on as she speeds from Newcastle to South Shields.”
To sponsor Betty, please visit www.justgiving.com/Betty-Shepherd. For more information about the Great North Run, please visit www.greatrun.org/great-north-run
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A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are around 152,000 strokes in the UK every year and it is one of the largest causes of disability. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
