Stroke survivor and fully kitted out hockey goalkeeper from Lancaster take on 5k challenge for charity

A stroke survivor and a hockey goalkeeper in full kit ran five kilometres together to raise money for the Stroke Association.
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Friends and colleagues Phil Woodford, from Catterall, and Sarah Hart, from Lancaster, had been due to take part in the charity’s Resolution Run event in Blackpool in March.

But after lockdown forced the cancellation of the event, Fylde Hockey Club stepped in to provide an alternative venue.

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The pair, who work at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, ran over 17 laps of the hockey pitch together to complete their challenge.

Sarah and Phil on the 5k challenge.Sarah and Phil on the 5k challenge.
Sarah and Phil on the 5k challenge.

Phil, 49, had two strokes in 2016. He said: “Stroke robs too many families of their future and can strike at any age.

"I struggle to walk one kilometre some days, let alone run five!

“I’m proud to have tackled this challenge with my friend Sarah as all money raised will go towards making life better for survivors right across the country and that’s the least I can do for the support and love everyone has shown me since my strokes four years ago.”

So far the pair have raised more than £500 for the cause.

Stroke survivor Phil Woodford.Stroke survivor Phil Woodford.
Stroke survivor Phil Woodford.
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Sarah, 36, said: “Running five kilometres is one thing, but doing it wearing of 12 kilograms of kit is quite another.

“It would have been easy for me to have quit, but I had to keep thinking that people who have had a stroke can’t quit, and that spurred me on to finish.

“We had great fun doing this together and Phil is a legend for completing this challenge.”

There’s still time to make a donation at justgiving.com/fundraising/sarahthedoc or justgiving.com/fundraising/philip-woodford-resolution-run-Blackpool-2020