A COUPLE from Tavistock ran Exeter’s Great West Run on October 18 after a distressing incident led them to support the Stroke Association.

David and Louise Helcoop have run a number of half-marathons over the years and had already been planning to take part in the Great West Run when David experienced first hand a colleague suffering a stroke.

At the time he had no idea his 47-year-old colleague was having a stroke and work mates thought he had fainted as there were no other signs or other symptoms that he was having a stroke. David took his colleague to Tavistock Hospital to have him checked out. When they arrived in the MIU his colleague experienced a very obvious stroke and was promptly dealt with by the health professionals.

Having witnessed this traumatic incident, David decided to raise funds for the Stroke Association.

He said: ‘Not only can we raise money for this great charity, but we can raise awareness of this potentially life-changing condition at the same time.’

Although strokes are one of the UK’s biggest killers and leading cause of adult disability, many people do not understand it or ever think it could happen to them.

Louise, who works as an administrator for Tavistock Community rehabilitation team, Plymouth Community Health Care, said she was much happier now that her husband’s work place was far better informed on the possibility of strokes and would respond differently in future. 

David and Louise have raised money for different causes in the past, often keeping the money within the community.

In 2013 they raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support’s Triangle Centre in Tavistock, which helps cancer patients and their families navigate through their treatment and recovery.

In April 2014 they raised money as part of a team for Tavistock Hospital League of Friends. In October 2014 they fundraised for the Soldier, Sailor and Families Association in memory of Louise’s father Colin Baker.

In April they ran the Plymouth Half-Marathon with Louise’s colleague Nicki Allott to raise money for Whitchurch Scout Group.

Their training for the Great West Run began again a few weeks ago with the couple out running three times a week, usually for around seven miles.

In total they raised around £300 for the Stroke Association. Louise said: ‘The event was fantastic. I ran it last year with a colleague in a time of two hours and 46 minutes.

‘Running with David, we managed it in a time of two hours and 19 minutes, so a huge improvement for me and we are so happy to have raised a bit of money at the same time.’

If you would like to support them with a donation, visit the webpage www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Tamarpackagingsolutions