Former soldier from Bourne who suffered near-fatal stroke takes on Stride for Stroke to help Stroke Association charity

A former soldier who suffered a near-fatal stroke last year is walking 1.2 million steps to raise money for a charity that supported him.

Paul Tranter, 53, of Great Leighs in Bourne, was given just a 20 per cent chance of survival when he suffered a brain-stem stroke in November 2019.

Thankfully he survived, but he was left with a number of disabilities connected to his vision and balance and now has to walk with the aid of sticks.

The father-of-four, who worked for more than 30 years as a civil servant, was also medically retired from work this May.

However, he refuses to let his disabilities dictate his life and is determined to walk around 10,000 steps a day to give something back to the Stroke Association.

He has already raised more than £1,000, smashing his £500 target.

Paul, who served with the First Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment between 1983 and 1988, said: “I know I’m lucky to be here. It’s made me look at life a lot differently and I’ve had to completely reinvent myself.

“I’m just immensely grateful to the NHS and the agencies that supported me, including the Stroke Association who have been amazing. For me now it’s about keeping fit and healthy so I don’t have a further stroke, and also giving something back.”

The aim of Stride for Stroke is to walk 1.2 million steps in 120 days and Paul is already getting stuck into the challenge with his “training partners” - pet pooch Charlie and step-daughter Poppy, aged nine.

“Although on the face of it this is quite a straightforward task, for me this is a massive physical undertaking due to my newly acquired disabilities,” Paul said.

“I appreciate that we are experiencing difficult and challenging times, and that sponsoring anybody is probably the last thing on anybody’s mind, but any support for me in this challenge would be gratefully appreciated.”

Recalling the evening he had the stroke on November 26 last year, Paul said he had been working on the ground floor of the three-storey house he shares with partner Claire, 41, and step-daughter Poppy at around 10pm.

“I was sat with a cup of tea watching the news and looking over some notes and then all of a sudden I felt an immense pain to the left side of my head,” he said.

“My vision went and my balance went, I couldn’t shout, all I could see was a pin prick of light. I crawled on my hands and knees up two storeys to wake Claire. I used to teach first aid so I knew exactly what it was. I put myself in the recovery position and we waited for an ambulance.

“It was terrifying; I didn’t think I was going to come out the other side.”

Paul, who puts the stroke down to stress, then spent four days in Peterborough City Hospital receiving treatment before later being discharged.

“It was a very difficult time, for me and my family,” he said. “They had been told to put my affairs in order as they didn’t know I would make it.”

Paul said the stroke and the impact of his new disabilities had taken their toll on his mental health and he underwent counselling.

“Mentally it’s been hard,” he said. “If we’d spoken about this six months ago I would probably have broken down in tears. Now I look for challenges, whether it’s hoovering, ironing or walking the dog. I try to commit to everything.”

He said he was still “pretty sharp-minded” and now aims to work with other stroke survivors to help them through their ordeals.

“I’m just so thankful to still be here,” he added.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-tranter3