Kayla Hunt

I’m taking on Stride4Stroke.

If you know Robyn, you know she’s the life of the party, she lights up every room she walks into. She’s the kind of woman who remembers everyone’s story, makes strangers feel like family and who religiously scrubs the kitchen sink multiple times a day. She’s fiercely loyal and the glue of our family.

Back in May, Nan suffered another stroke. This one was different.

For over a week, she was barely conscious. Her speech was gone. Her right side completely immobile. Her memory scattered. If I’m honest - we weren’t sure she was going to pull through. 

Day after day, we were left sitting in hospital rooms, holding her hand, hoping. Bracing. It was devastating to watch someone so full of life become so still.

But Robyn is nothing if not determined. Little by little, she began to return to us. A glance. A hand squeeze. A stubborn frown or lift of the eyebrow. Eventually her favourite swear word. She fought and clawed her way back.

After months in hospital, she’s finally home - relearning basics, building strength, showing us what resilience truly looks like. Nothing about it has been easy and recovery is messy.

Before Nan, I was fortunate (and truthfully naive) to what stroke really means. How it impacts not just the person, but every loved one around them. 

It's been hard watching from the sidelines, feeling helpless and not living close enough to see her everyday.

I've been searching for a small way to help and turn helplessness into something tangible - so I’m taking on the Stride4Stroke challenge in September, in an effort to raise money for the Stroke Foundation.

I’m aiming to clock 250km across the month. That’s just over 62km each week. Some days I’ll run. Some I will definitely have to walk. Every step for Nan. For every moment she's had to fight just to lift a fork, fight to find a word and fight to get back her independence.

The money raised goes directly to the Stroke Foundation which funds critical research and vital recovery support.

If you can spare a few dollars, or share this with someone who can, I’d be so grateful. Robyn would be too.