Moreton Morrell stroke victim in Birmingham abseil
by Jonny Greatrex, Birmingham Mail

A BRAVE stroke survivor is tackling his biggest fear to raise money for the charity which helped him recover his health.

Andy Jones, aged 45, will try to overcome his crippling phobia of heights when he does a sponsored abseil down Birmingham’s landmark Fort Dunlop building on Sunday.

The daredevil stunt is part of the Stroke Association’s Act F.A.S.T campaign to raise awareness of the life-threatening attacks and the need for quick treatment.

Andy, who lives in Moreton Morrell in Warwickshire, said: “I do not know how they have got me to do it.

“I have faced the challenge of recovering from my stroke so now I have another challenge.

“There would be no point taking it on if it was something I was comfortable with.

“I am not sure how I will do, I get scared when I am on a shed roof.”

Andy, who has a job as a family and carer support coordinator for the Stroke Association, collapsed on a customer’s doorstep when working as a courier in 2003.

Fortunately he was close to the Walsgrave Hospital, in Coventry, and received vital drugs to limit the damage caused by the attack in less than an hour.

The speed with which he was treated and the help he received from the charity he now works for means he has almost fully recovered after being paralysed down his right side and losing his speech.

He said: “There are now no visible signs although I do get very fatigued.

“Being in hospital within an hour was very important.

“We need to improve the awareness of strokes and what to do.

“The Act F.A.S.T campaign is a real good start.”

Since 2004, Andy has worked as a volunteer for a number of charities.