Stroke survivor to walk through pain barrier after hospital vow

As an avid runner, Ross Kaye was used to pushing himself, but his life was flipped upside down when he suffered a stroke during a routine run. Now, two and a half years later, he is taking on a new challenge for the hospital that saved his life.

What started as a regular Tuesday evening run with his friend, Spencer, in January 2024 took a terrifying turn when Ross felt an electric shock shoot down his body.

The 54-year-old was taken to Lincoln County Hospital, where it was discovered his blood pressure was dangerously high.

"I think some difficult discussions were had with family and friends," Ross recalls.

"But, luckily, through determination and because of me being fit through running, I managed to sort of battle through.

"I thought I lived a very healthy lifestyle and I was a healthy guy. I could go out and run half marathons, no problem. But this high blood pressure thing crept up on me.

"You're sitting there [in hospital] watching people around you, you're thinking: 'How am I here?' I was certainly a lot younger than the rest of the ward. It was quite a shock."

Ross, who works in construction, says his confidence was "ripped" from him after the stroke. He also had to give up his hobby of carp fishing.

"It's changed me as a person... it's a very, very long and painful journey," he admits.

"But you never give up, whether for me or my family - my daughter is 20-years-old and I want to be the dad I want to be, it's just hard."

After months in hospital, Ross was taken home in a wheelchair, unable to walk. As he was leaving the ward, he said: "I will come back into this ward and I will walk over that threshold."

On 3 July, he will walk five miles from his home at Sudbrooke, near Lincoln, to the hospital's stroke unit in aid of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.

"It's not just a physical problem with having a stroke, it's also a mental problem," Ross adds.

"[I've] been through some very dark times, but I'm believing that you never give up, you've got to keep fighting... that's part of who I am.

"So this desire to walk back to the stroke unit was good for me mentally and it was good for me physically."

Five miles may not seem far for the average person, but for Ross, who is still in recovery, it is no mean feat.

"We're close to doing the walk and it's hard. It's like one of my first half marathons, it's a daunting feat... to walk that distance now is a huge challenge."

Charity manager Ben Petts says: "Ross has endured months of pain during his recovery. To walk such a distance is remarkable and we are truly grateful for his commitment to support patients and their families at one of the most critical times of their lives."

Since his mum died in 2013, Ross regularly ran the Great North Run for charity and has raised more than £10,000 to support people affected by cancer.

Before his new challenge has even started, he has already raised more than £3,000.

"I've had a lot of support from friends and family and it's been heartwarming."

Ross will be joined by about 30 people on his challenge, as well as family and friends from the North East.

His aim to to say thank you to the staff that looked after him, as well as to encourage people to check their blood pressure.

"Get your blood pressure checked. I can't stress that enough," Ross says.

"I was an extremely fit and healthy guy. I ate well. I drank little. I looked after my body. Fresh air outside. I did everything right, but didn't take my blood pressure.

"If I raise a bit of awareness and I stop one person from going through what I've gone through, that I think will do me."

To raise awareness, Ross also hopes to do a carp fishing charity challenge and plans to walk the Great North Run in 2027.

He says: "I've got pain 24 hours a day, but my will to do good things is stronger than the pain."

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