Swansea team go the extra mile for the Stroke Association | Tîm o Abertawe’n rasio i helpu'r Gymdeithas Strôc

Claire and Gary Edwards-Matthews from Morriston and Wendy and David Johnson from Llansamlet will be tackling the 26 mile course in honour of Wendy’s sister who had a stroke at just 51.

Wendy, 44, said:

“My sister Vicky had a stroke five years ago when she was coming round from an operation. She’s been left with a lot of pain down one side and is a bit forgetful. She had visits from a Stroke Association coordinator which were very helpful, so we wanted to give something back.

“We’ve all done quite a few marathons, but London is the best – the streets are so well lined with supporters who cheer for all the people running for charities, shouting out your name as it’s on your number. Practicing on the hills round Llansamlet makes training much easier as well.”

Stroke survivor Vicky hopes that her sister and friends will top the £6,000 which they raised at the 2016 marathon.

She said:

“Money for research is so needed. When you look at the breakthroughs which have been made in cancer, it would be amazing to see the same for stroke because you don’t know what’s round the corner, whatever age you are.

“I’ll know a bit of how they feel as I did the Swansea Bay 10k after my stroke. I knew it was important to push myself to improve my mobility.”

Margaret Street, Director of the Stroke Association in Wales, said:

“Around 66,000 people in Wales are living with the devastating impact of stroke. We’re thrilled Wendy, David, Claire and Gary are taking on this challenge to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association and we’re looking forward to cheering them on as they make their way through London.

“A stroke can happen to anyone at any time and it turns lives upside down. With the support of enthusiastic runners we can help more stroke survivors and their families as they rebuild their lives.”

To anyone else thinking of running a marathon, Wendy’s tip is to “boost your GI carbs”.

She added:

“Those are the carbs which stay in your body longer to give you the energy to keep going. My husband didn’t eat enough of them last time and was sick!”

To sponsor Wendy and the team, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wendy-david-gary-claire-london-marathon-2018

ENDS

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Bydd Claire a Gary Edwards-Matthews o Dreforys a Wendy a David Johnson o Lansamlet yn mynd i’r afael â’r cwrs 26 milltir yn enw chwaer Wendy, a chafodd strôc pan oedd yn 51 mlwydd oed.

Dywedodd Wendy, 44:

“Cafodd fy chwaer, Vicky, strôc pum mlynedd yn ôl pan ddeffrodd wedi llawdriniaeth. Mae hi’n profi poen lawr un ochr o’i chorff ac mae’n rhywfaint yn anghofus. Yr oedd ymweliadau gan gydlynydd y Gymdeithas Strôc yn dipyn o help iddi, felly yr oeddwn ni eisiau rhoi rhywbeth yn ôl."

“Ni wedi gwneud tipyn o farathons, ond Llundain yw’r gorau – mae’r strydoedd yn llawn cefnogwyr yn annog pobl sy’n rhedeg ar gyfer elusennau, yn bloeddio’r enw sydd ar eich rhif. Mae ymarfer ar y bryniau o gwmpas Llansamlet yn help mawr wrth baratoi ar gyfer y ras.”

Mae Vicky, sydd wedi goroesi strôc yn gobeithio bydd ei chwaer a’i ffrindiau yn gwella ar y £6,000 gwnaethant godi ar gyfer y marathon yn 2016.

Dywedodd:

“Mae gwir angen arian ar gyfer ymchwil. Pan fyddwch yn edrych ar y camau sydd wedi digwydd gyda chancr, byddai’n wych gweld yr un peth yn digwydd gyda strôc. S’dim dal beth sydd rownd y gornel, pa bynnag oedran ydych chi

“Rwy’n gallu uniaethu rhywfaint. Rhedais 10k Bae Abertawe ar ôl fy strôc. Yr oedd yn bwysig i mi wthio fy hunan er mwyn gwella fy ffitrwydd.”

Dywedodd Margaret Street, Cyfarwyddwr y Gymdeithas Strôc:

“Mae dros 66,000 o bobl yn byw â thraw effaith enbyd strôc. Mae’n wych gweld Wendy, David, Claire a Gary yn mynd i’r afael â’r her yma er mwyn codi arian hanfodol ar gyfer y Gymdeithas Strôc, ac edrychwn ymlaen at eu hannog ymlaen wrth iddynt wneud eu ffordd trwy Lundain.

“Gall strôc taro unrhyw un, unrhyw bryd, ac mae’n troi bywydau o gwmpas. Gyda chefnogaeth rhedwyr brwdfrydig gallwn gynorthwyo mwy o oroeswyr a’u teuluoedd wrth iddynt ail-adeiladu ei bywydau.”

I unrhyw un arall sydd yn meddwl rhedeg marathon, cyngor Wendy yw i “gynyddu’ch carbs GI”

Ychwanegodd:

“Rhain yw’r carbs sydd yn aros yn eich corff yr hirach er mwyn rhoi’r egni sydd angen arnoch i barhau i fynd. Yr oedd y gŵr yn sâl y tro diwethaf am na fwytodd ddigon!”

I noddi Wendy a’r tîm, ymwelwch â www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wendy-david-gary-claire-london-marathon-2018

DIWEDD