Daughter steps into dad’s shoes following tragic death
MARATHON HER FATHER HOPED TO COMPLETE
THE daughter of a man who died suddenly last year after a stroke has vowed to take his place in charity runs he had signed up for.
Isobel Hall, from Leicester, has also pledged to walk 1.3 million steps – one for every stroke survivor in the UK.
Her father, Stuart, from Thornton, suffered a stroke, resulting in a bleed on his brain in August last year.
The run leader for the Desford Striders club died on August 25, two days after the stroke, aged 56.
Isobel has since joined her dad’s running club and has pledged to run the London Marathon, as well as taking on the Stroke Association’s Stride for Stroke challenges.
The 25-year-old said: “Dad’s stroke came out of nowhere.
“It was a devastating shock to all that knew him that someone still in the prime of their life could be taken from us so soon and so quickly.”
Stuart was six weeks away from taking part in the London Marathon and members of the club suggested the idea of Isobel taking his place.
Isobel said: “Everyone at the club has been amazing and so supportive to our family.
“When I was asked if I wanted to take his marathon place I didn’t even consider it – it was too raw and I was too upset. I have felt so conflicted about taking this on because, although I want to do it for my dad, actually he just wanted to do it himself.
“I thought about it for a long time and then one day I just said ‘I can do this.’
“Although my experience with stroke was short-lived, the devastating impact of it certainly isn’t.
“When you read about stroke you learn that it wasn’t until about 20 years ago that we started to take it more seriously.
“That it’s not just something that happens to older people and that there is something we can do about it.
“I am an all-or-nothing kind of girl, so going couch to marathon would seem about right. I want to continue to try to be happy because I know that’s what my dad would want.
“I really don’t care where I finish, I just know I’m crossing that finish line – it’s happening!”
Striders chairman Andy Ball said: “Stuart’s tragic loss has hit everyone at the club extremely hard. He was a
tremendously popular member and, since joining in 2018, had thrown himself wholeheartedly into Striders, not only as a regular and reliable race runner but also as a trained run leader, encouraging other runners in his inimitable style.”
At the request of Stuart’s family many Striders members lined the route for his funeral procession in September, wearing club colours.
The club also held a day honouring Stuart on October 10, as runners completed a baton relay for five hours and 15 minutes – the time Stuart was aiming to complete the marathon in.
Isobel and her sister Phoebe started the relay and led everyone home on the last leg.
Andy said: “It was an emotional but uplifting day for us all and Isobel has since taken up her father’s mantle, having joined the club with the ultimate aim of running the London Marathon in Stuart’s memory.”
Lucy Burnip, relationship fundraising manager at the Stroke Association, said: We’re so pleased to see that Isobel is doing something amazing and walking 1.3 million steps – that’s one step for every stroke survivor – over 130 days, while also taking on the marathon.
“Whether you take on this challenge as a stroke survivor, in memory of a loved one, in support of someone affected by stroke or you just want to help raise crucial funds to rebuild lives after stroke, we are so incredibly grateful.
“Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.”
To sponsor Isobel, visit her Just Giving page: