Stroke survivor urges others to do sponsored walk

Buy photos » Pete Rumbold (fourth from the right) with the others who will be stepping out for stroke. s

A BROMSGROVE man will be taking part in a charity walk, just eight months after suffering a stroke.

Pete Rumbold will be showing there definitely is ‘Life after Stroke’ next Sunday (July 29), when he undertakes the Step Out fund-raiser at Cannon Hill Park.

Now Pete is hoping to inspire others from the region to ‘step out’ and raise funds for The Stroke Association.

Pete’s stroke was a complete shock - he was a 16-stone body-builder who was training up to five days-a-week, he did not smoke, ate healthily and played the energetic and competitive racketball.

“I had to stop a training session as I had a massive headache.

“I arranged to go to a friend’s house, as I felt awful. When I got there I stumbled into the house and the next thing I knew, a district nurse was on the phone saying yes ‘he is having a stroke’.”

Pete’s life changed forever - he was in hospital for seven weeks and was unable to talk, move without a hoist or eat.

He said: “I had to come to terms that rehab was going to be a long hard slog and there was always the doubt I would not recover.

“So my battle started and I was determined this would not beat me.”

With the help of the team at Altered Images gym in Bromsgrove, Pete has pushed himself to improve and now walks with a walking stick and splint.

Next Sunday, Pete will be walking with friends from the young stroke survivors group, who are all hoping as many people sign up and step out.

The paths and walkways in Cannon Hill Park are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Step Out will be from 2pm to 5pm and registration is just £5.

Participants, who will all get a special Step Out T-shirt and goody bag, can set their own challenges - either by distance, steps or time - and are also urged to get sponsored for their walk.

After the walk, there will be a family fun day, with craft stalls, entertainments and activities for children, such as face-painting and a bouncy castle.

To register, call 01527 903903 or visit www.stroke.org.uk/stepout.

Entrants can also register on the day at Cannon Hill Park.

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