A Lincolnshire man who suffered a stroke during an evening run is to fulfil a promise he made when he left the ward in a wheelchair and walk back through the doors of the hospital unit which cared for him, to raise awareness of the dangers of strokes particularly in younger people.

Ross Kaye, 54, will walk from his home at Sudbrooke near Lincoln on Friday 3 July to Lincoln County Hospital’s Stroke Unit. The five-mile walk, in aid of United Lincolnshire Hospital’s Charity, will raise funds for improvements to the unit.

Charity Manager, Ben Petts said: “Ross has endured months of pain during his recovery. To walk such a distance is remarkable and we are truly grateful for his commitment to support patients and their families at one of the most critical times of their lives. The money raised will help us equip a family room, kitchen and day room in the new Stroke Unit which is being developed at the hospital.”

Before his stroke, Ross was an active runner, regularly taking part in events including the Great North Run. His commitment was inspired by the loss of his mother in 2013 and he has raised more than £10,000 to support people affected by cancer.

“Raising money for charity felt good and running was also a big healer for me. I had a high-pressured job providing dispute management services to the construction industry which I loved, and I found the running helped me mentally as well as physically.”

Life was good for Ross and his wife Tracey, and they had just started to plan their future after their daughter moved away for university life. But on 9 January 2024, Ross’s life changed with no warning. While out running with a friend, he collapsed. He recalls:

“It felt like an electric shock run down my body. I managed to get up and ran a bit more, but I collapsed again. It was then I realised I had had a stroke.”

The next few hours were a blur to Ross, as he was rushed to Lincoln County Hospital where he underwent a series of tests. His blood pressure was dangerously high, so he was transferred to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for specialist care.

When he finally returned to Lincoln, the hospital’s Stroke Unit became his home. It was a frightening time for Ross; he was in severe pain, unable to move his leg and arm and had gone from being very fit and independent to completely reliant on others.

Ross credits the Stroke Unit team for playing a vital role in his recovery, both physically and mentally. He said: “They know you are not in a good way, and they show great humanity, they are always there for you. I remember one day one of the team was encouraging me to do a couple of steps in a side room and outside the window the rest of the team were clapping – enthusiastically wishing me on.”

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Eight weeks later, Ross moved home and Tracey became his carer. His recovery continues to this day and despite ongoing challenges including reduced mobility, fatigue and chronic pain, Ross remains determined to regain as much mobility as possible.

A good friend, Sean who is a physiotherapist at the hospital and has played a key role in helping Ross to walk again has challenged him to walk from his home to the Stroke Unit, a distance of five miles.

Ross will also be joined on the walk by two other friends who have experienced strokes at a young age. As well as raising funds to enhance the services of the Stroke Unit, Ross is keen to raise awareness of strokes, particularly in younger people who do not consider themselves at risk. 

 “I was fit, I didn’t smoke, and I lived a healthy lifestyle. I never went to the doctors, so I did not know I had high blood pressure. Was my job to blame? Did family pressures play a part?  I will never know, but what I do know is that I do not want anyone else to go through what I have been through if they can avoid it.” 

Since his stroke, many of Ross’s friends now check their blood pressure regularly, a simple act that could save their lives.

The stroke had a big impact on Ross and his family. His daughter changed her university plans to stay close to home, and while Ross has returned to work, he accepts that he is not the confident person he once was. The reduced mobility in the right side of body and the constant pain is challenging. But he has a network of friends who constantly push him to do more.

“My will to get better is stronger than the pain,” he explained, “When I put the pain to one side I can do other things. My day exists around physio, walking and exercising. Even when I am watching telly, I will be flexing my hands doing the exercises.”

Looking to the future Ross dreams of regaining some of the simple pleasures he once enjoyed, like carp fishing, holding the rod in his hands, sitting by the lake and enjoying its tranquillity.  Above all, he hopes his journey will make a lasting difference to others. He finishes by saying: “If I was my old self now, I would have regular blood pressure checks and if sharing my story prevents just one person having a stroke, then it’s worth it!”

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