Fighting Strokes
April 5th, 2011
Riasca Paper and Print are thrilled to announce that we are now official supporters of the charity Fighting Strokes, which aims to raise awareness about locked-in syndrome, and strokes in sufferers under 60.
Fighting Strokes was set up by Kate Allatt, a Yorkshire-based marketing professional and mum of three who suffered a sudden stroke last year that left her trapped in her body, unable to move anything but her eyes.
Prior to the stroke Kate had been a fit and healthy 39-year-old, whose enjoyments included running for miles around her Sheffield home. A slight headache was the only warning prior to the onset of the stroke, and soon Kate was in hospital, with doctors giving her a 50% chance of survival and warning that she would probably never walk again.
But Kate disagreed – in fact she has since stated that this prognosis filled her with fury. Using a letter chart, she was able to blink her eyes to communicate the message, ‘I will walk again’.
Over the months that followed, she set herself challenges, often concentrating all her will on one part of her body at a time until she was able to move it, even just a twitch.
Now, not only is she walking again but in February of this year – a year to the day since she suffered her stroke – she donned her kit again and set off into Ecclesall Woods for her first run.
Kate has written a book about her experiences, which is due for release around 23rd May 2011. Next week she is on the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2 (it will be on Monday 11th at 12:30pm for those who want to tune in), and she is a finalist for the Extraordinary Personal Endeavour Award in the Extraordinary Women Awards 2011, which will be held on Tuesday May 10th.
For more information on Fighting Strokes, visit Kate’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/beatinglockedinsyndrome
