Former patient and stroke-survivor Stephen Ellis is currently walking the 603 miles from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to support our Stroke Unit. On Friday he made it to CRH and was greeted with applause and cheering by his carers on the unit.

Stephen promised the teams he would do this after he recovered from his stroke in March. Whilst he was still recovering, Stephen dreamt he completed this walk: “I woke up and told one of the nurses I was going to do it, she looked at me like I had three heads and said Mr Ellis you’ve had a stroke and I said I know, I’m still going to do it. So, it became a promise.”   

There have been plenty of highlights so far for Stephen. Whilst travelling through Glasgow he heard someone bellow “What are you doing?” It turned out to be the Scottish actor, James Cosmo (who starred in Trainspotting and Game of Thrones to mention just two), and the two of them stopped for breakfast together and chatted for a while. Commenting on the meeting Stephen said: “That was so inspiring. The next day I walked 31 miles and didn’t feel tired at the end of it.”

Another incredible moment happened when Stephen was able to fill in some of his missing memories. The host of the house he was staying in - her father-in-law, knew all the people Stephen was trying to track down to help fill in his missing gaps. Having those pieces of lost memory restored has been really powerful for Stephen and has helped fuel him during those long, lonely stretches on the walk.

Stephen thanked the whole team on the Stroke Unit: “I know you were just doing your jobs, but I will be eternally grateful for the treatment, the care, and the reassurance I received whilst I was in hospital. Without the outstanding work you did, I wouldn’t have been given the chance to do this challenge.”

Matron, Lisa Wilkinson said: “Colleagues  on the Stroke Unit provide an amazing amount of care due to the specialisms within the team. The doctors, nurses, therapy staff and housekeepers have all contributed towards Stephen’s care, helping him in his journey. The Stroke Team are changing people’s lives.”

Stephen is raising money for our Acute Stroke Unit at CRH and also for a local charity, The Calderdale Stroke Support Group.