A TULLIBODY man is hoping to raise awareness on stroke while raising valuable funds for a charity with a sponsored walk in Alva this month.

Local man Ian Hunter, who suffered a series of strokes around two years ago, is organising Step Out for Stroke Alva on Sunday, May 12, at the Cochrane Park with a £5 entry and first aid cover and refreshments provided.

It will benefit the Stroke Association, where the 60-year-old is a Wee County ambassador, with registration for the event starting at 10am on the day and the first steps taken from 11am.

Ian said: “There’s a lot of people in Clackmannanshire who’ve had strokes, but know nothing about where to go or what to do for support.

“There are people that can help and they’ll point you in the right direction.”

Ian himself suffered what is called a “silent stroke”, a silent cerebral infarction or cover brain infract as healthcare professionals will know it, in 2017.

It is initially not severe enough to cause any obvious symptoms and was only picked up during a brain scan.

Later he was going through a brain surgery for an aneurysm and an infection lead to a series of seizures, resulting in an optic nerve stroke.

Ian said: “It totally destroyed my peripheral vision, I’m now registered as partially-sighted.

“It completely turns your life upside down, not just you, but anybody around you – in my case my wife as well, because she had to become a full-time carer.”

One of the big daily issues experienced by those who suffered any type of stroke is fatigue, Ian explained.

As a result, some sufferers often lose their employment and prospects.

Anyone is welcome to sign up for the Step Out for Stroke day at Cochrane Park, with those interested asked to email stepout@stroke.org.uk for more details.

Thanks go to Alva Development Trust for their help with the event.

Meanwhile, Ian is looking to encourage people who had suffered a stroke to attend a monthly support group at Ludgate House in Alloa.

Those heading along benefit by meeting and sharing with others in similar circumstances, practical tips, access to relevant information, signposting and talks from experts on niche stroke-related subjects.

The group meets every third Tuesday between 2pm and 4pm – email susan.bennett@stroke.org.uk or call her on 07764 907 472 for more details.

For more information on the effects of stroke, visit stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Association helpline on 0303 3033 100.