Lewis Crawford, 25, from Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, is taking on the Virgin Money London Marathon for the Stroke Association on Sunday April 28 after his best friend had two strokes aged just 25.
Curtis McGhee, now 27, had two serious strokes in the summer of 2017 which initially left him in a coma. When he regained consciousness, Curtis was unable to walk or use his left side and was blind in his left eye. Tragically, Curtis also lost his Father in early 2018 and was unable to attend the funeral, due to his condition.
Now Lewis, who has never ran a marathon, is determined to give something back after seeing everything that Curtis and his family have been through.
He said: “Despite everything that’s happened, Curtis is defying all the odds and is now on a long and tough road to recovery. All his family and friends were told he may not make it out of his coma and he did. The doctors also couldn’t believe how good his speech was, he’s amazing”
“Training for the marathon is taking its toll, especially as I have a very physically demanding job and young children. However, I know that just taking five steps is a marathon for Curtis, so the days that I’m tired from training, I just remember that I’m lucky to be able to run. Knowing what Curtis and his family have gone through to this day really pushes me on – I’m doing it for them”
Sara Adderley, Head of Stroke Support at the Stroke Association, said: “There are around 100,000 strokes every year in the UK and 1.2 million people in the UK are living with the devastating impact of stroke. We’re so grateful to Lewis for taking on this famous challenge to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association and we’ll be cheering him on all the way to the finish line.”
“A stroke can happen to anyone at any time and it turns lives upside down. However, with the support of people like Lewis we can help more stroke survivors like Curtis as they look to rebuild their lives.”
To sponsor Lewis, please visit: www.justgiving.com/teamstrokelew
