By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor
London taxi driver swaps his cab for two wheels, to tackle the London to Paris Bike Ride for the Stroke Association
Hornchurch resident John Clark,54 is getting ready to cycle 234 miles, over five days, through two countries, as he takes on the London to Paris Bike Ride to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.
John, a London cab driver, will be swapping his cab for his bike in September as he cycles over 200 miles to Paris in aid of the Stroke Association who supported his father John, after he had series of mini strokes (also known as a TIA or transient ischaemic attack).
John said: “My father’s strokes had a huge impact on him and my family, but the support he’s received from the Stroke Association is fantastic. I want to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association so they can be there for more survivors like father, and their families.”
Last month was the Stroke Association’s third Action on Stroke which turned the spotlight on mini strokes. The report revealed that thousands of people are putting themselves at risk of a stroke by dismissing their passing symptoms as ‘just a funny turn’.
John added: “As a family we now know that there’s nothing small about mini-stroke. It’s a medical emergency. Seeing the devastation stroke can cause has motivated me to cycle the London to Paris bike ride for the Stroke Association. The support it gives survivors and their families is fantastic, and I want to help the charity be there for everyone affected by stroke.”
Nancy Lillington, Events Manager from the Stroke Association said: “There are around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK – that’s one every three and a half minutes. We’re a charity that relies on people like John to raise funds so we can be there for families affected by stroke. We wish John all the luck in his training and we’ll be cheering him on as he makes his way through London.”
There’s still time for you to join John at the start line. To secure your place the annual London to Paris Bike Ride 2014 please contact Nancy Lillington on 01527 903 501 or visit http://www.stroke.org.uk/event/london-paris-bike-ride-2014
