​Morpeth stroke survivor goes the extra mile for the Stroke Association

A mother and stroke survivor from Morpeth will take on the Morrisons Great North Run on Sunday 13 September 2015, to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.

Jayne Manners, 39, had a stroke in February 2010, caused by a tear in an artery in her neck, which led to a clot in her brain. Jayne was in Spain with her fiancé and parents in law, visiting the venue where she was due to get married later that year. One evening, she started to feel sick, dizzy, and couldn’t walk properly. After calling an ambulance she was taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed two days later as having had a stroke. While in hospital Jayne completely lost her vision and all the movement in her body.

Jayne said: “I worked as cabin crew so recognised the signs of stroke and asked my family to call an ambulance. While in hospital, every day was a different challenge. Gradually my eyesight and movement came back. It took months before I could walk properly unaided. A huge motivation for me during my recovery was aiming to walk down the aisle during my wedding. My husband, Tony, and I still married in Spain five months after my stroke.”

Now a mother to four year old son Aidan, Jayne is preparing to mark another huge milestone, by taking part in her first half-marathon for the Stroke Association.

She explained: “I’ve always been active and used to play sports at school, but this is the first time I’ve ever run any major distance. Last year I didn’t think I could even run a mile, yet now I’m preparing to run a half-marathon! I’m really enjoying training and feel better now than I have ever felt before. I want to raise funds for the Stroke Association, to help other people affected by stroke to get the support they need.”

Liz Williams, Events Manager at Stroke Association, said: “With around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK – that’s around one every three and a half minutes – it’s vital that we have people like Jayne who can raise funds for people affected by stroke. Jayne is truly going the extra mile for the Stroke Association and we look forward to cheering her on as she speeds from Newcastle to South Shields.”

To sponsor Jayne, please visit www.justgiving.com/jayne-manners For more information about the Morrisons Great North Run, please visit www.greatrun.org/great-north-run

The Stroke Association is the UK’s leading stroke charity which campaigns to improve stroke care; supports people to make the best recovery they canand funds ground-breaking research to change the lives of people affected by stroke. For more information about stroke, visit stroke.org.uk or call the helpline on 0303 3033 100.