Reading man takes on 10K run for Stroke Association in memory of two “amazing” friends

A Reading man is pitting himself against a 10k run to raise funds for the Stroke Association in memory of two friends who both died after having a stroke.

Rob Staff, 54, who lives in Spencers Wood, has been working on building up his fitness since March ahead of running in the Worcester 10k on 13 September.

The run is dedicated to his friends Brian Hodgkinson and Mark Tebbutt.

Remarkably, it will be a repeat of the challenge Rob took on 11 years ago, when he replaced Brian, who died shortly before he himself had been due to take part.

Rob, a locksmith, said: “Having lost two equally amazing people, I wanted to raise awareness and money by running the in Worcester 10k on 11 September this year, just like I did back in 2015.

“Brian passed away 11 years ago after having a stoke a year or so previously. He had been supported by the Stroke Association and was going to run for the charity but sadly he passed away shortly before it and so I took his place.

“We had been friends since the 1980s when we worked together at McDonald’s, my first job after leaving school.

“Just after Christmas last year, we were all at another McDonald’s reunion and decided to do it again in memory of Brian.

“Sadly, my other friend Mark passed away in April after a stroke, and I decided that the Stroke Association would be the charity I would run for in memory of them both.”

“I did the couch to 10k 100 days fitness programme. Every time I’m running and think I’m going to stop, I think of those two and it spurs me on. They’ll be laughing up in Heaven, thinking normally he can’t even run for a bus!

“I’m definitely not going to break records, but I’m just as determined to finish it as I was back then.”

Nick O’Donohue, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South East, said: “We’re hugely grateful to Rob for taking on this challenge in memory of his two good friends.

“Over 85,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.

“Our specialist support, research, and campaigning is only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters like Rob.”

You can find Rob’s fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/robert-staff-2

For more information about stroke and support services for survivors and carers in Berkshire, visit the Stroke Association website www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100.