A stroke survivor has proven to himself and others during this year’s Parish Walk that difficult challenges can be overcome.

Edward Kelly has been on a long road to recovery after suffering from a brain stem stroke shortly after his 21st birthday in 2002.

Now aged 37, the Onchan man’s positive outlook on life has helped him to walk from the NSC in Douglas to Braddan as part of the gruelling Parish Walk route. His efforts have raised more than £6,000 towards Manx Stroke Foundation.

The start to his walk on Saturday (June 22), however, did not go to plan.

’On the Friday night I was training and went to have a rest and I kept stumbling and fell over.

’I was taken to A&E and didn’t get back home until 1am. I had a bit of concussion and didn’t get much sleep after that because it was on my mind.’

On the day of the event he made the decision to carry on.

’I didn’t want to let people down and I’m the sort of person who would keep going,’ he said. ’I didn’t do the distance I had originally had planned, which was to Marown, but I’m glad I did it because it was quite magical.

’It’s amazing what a bit of sunshine and exercise will do to make you feel better. People were stopping me on the way and wanting to get pictures and supporting me.’

Mr Kelly wasn’t alone in his walking, as he was joined by Olivia Newstead and Lesley Patterson from the NSC and Manx Sport and Recreation as well as Nick Shimmin who was his designated photographer.

This wasn’t his first attempt at the Parish Walk, as he had taken it on aged 20 and later in 2005 following his stroke.

’My intention was to inspire people to be more active and to show that they can overcome something difficult,’ he said.

’A lot of people think of it as a bad thing, but it changed my life and the way I think about it. I used to have a party lifestyle and I think if I hadn’t had the stroke my life would’ve been different,’ he said. ’I’m enjoying my life. Every cloud has a silver lining.’

Before his stroke in October 2002, he began experiencing headaches and dizziness over a period of months.

Describing his stroke, he said: ’You know that feeling you get when you’re really drunk and the room is spinning out of control? That’s how it felt. My legs went to jelly and I was sick. One thing that really stood out on the day of the stroke was my sense of smell got better.’

Thinking he would sleep it off, he soon developed a feeling of pins and needles on his left side and lost the ability to speak. He was later rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Noble’s Hospital.

It took him two months to be able to start speaking again. ’That was the most frustrating part of it, not the lying in bed. I thought I’d lost my quick wittedness,’ he said.

Following 10 months in hospital beds at Noble’s and The Walton Centre in Liverpool he went straight back into work which helped him to recover his speech.

Following his feat from the NSC to Braddan using his walker named after the comedian ’Roy Walker’, Mr Kelly also took a walk on the promenade where he crossed the Parish Walk finish line much to the delight of onlookers.

To donate towards his cause search: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/edward-kelly5 or you can send a cheque addressed to Manx Stroke Foundation to 24 Buttermere Drive, Onchan, IM3 2DY