for charity
On Saturday 27 th September, stroke survivor Aaron Davies, 31, from Aberdare, will
attempt to climb Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, to raise vital funds for
the Stroke Association and Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health.
Aaron just 28 when he had a life-altering stroke on Christmas Day 2021. Alone and
unaware of what was happening, Aaron wasn’t found until two days later.
“Nobody knew I had a stroke,” he recalled. “I don’t remember anything until about a
week after. My first thought was, ‘Is this a really bad hangover?’ I thought, ‘I can’t
wait to go out for New Year’s Eve and party’ but it had already passed. I felt
incredibly dizzy, like I was constantly on the waltzers.”
Aaron doesn’t shy away from talking about the root cause of his stroke. “I used to
be a big alcoholic. I became a full-blown alcoholic when I was about 23 or 24,” he
said. When paramedics finally arrived, they were stunned he was still alive. “The
ambulance crew were surprised I was even still alive when they arrived.”
Aaron’s stroke left him with fatigue, incontinence, speech and memory problems,
sensory changes, and mobility issues. “Physically I’m slower, emotionally I’m
incredibly frustrated but mentally I’m better than ever,” he said. “I’ve worked hard. If
you’d seen where I was and see me now, it’s mad. My speech has come on
massively.”
One of the biggest changes for Aaron has been discovering the power of peer
support. “Attending the Stroke Support Group helped me understand how stroke
affects different people,” he said. “It also helped me realise how serious my own
stroke was.”
He attends multiple stroke groups, “I go every fortnight to the stroke group and
every first Monday of the month to the neurological group. The more groups, the
better,” he said. “Otherwise, I’m like mashed potato locked in my room.”
Aaron finds it especially valuable to support others who are going through their
own stroke or mental health challenges. “Before my stroke, my mental health was
in bits,” he said. “I know how it feels to hit rock bottom.”
One of the key spaces that has helped Aaron rebuild is the local Men’s Group in
Aberdare, which meets every Thursday from 6pm to 8pm at Aberdare Fire Station.
The format is simple: peer support in a relaxed, open setting.
“There are no set questions, no pressure to take turns, and no expectation to
speak,” Aaron explained. “We let the conversation flow naturally, usually starting
with something gentle like ‘How’s everyone’s week been?’”
The group operates on three powerful principles: No Pressure. No Judgement. No
Stigma.
Aaron describes the men in the group as his closest allies in recovery. “They’re the
ones I trust. Before my stroke, all of my friends were drinkers and they’re not
around anymore. Now, the people in the group are what I call my friends. They are
there for me. They support me and I trust them. I don’t know what I would have
done without them. And now I want to give back. That’s why I go, I want to be there
for others who are going through it.”
Now, nearly three years on from his stroke, Aaron has set himself the challenge of
climbing Pen y Fan, not only as a personal milestone but also to raise money and
awareness for the Stroke Association and Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health.
“This climb is about more than me. It’s about showing others that no matter how
dark it gets, you can find a way forward. Stroke and mental health can happen to
anyone and we need to talk about it, support each other, and make sure nobody
feels alone.”
Katie Chappelle, Associate Director for Wales, Stroke Association said: “We want to
say a huge thank you to Aaron. We’re all cheering him on as he takes on this
amazing challenge for the Stroke Association.
“Over 7,000 people survive a stroke every year in Wales, but surviving a stroke is
just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey. Mums, dads, grandparents,
young people, even children – anyone can have a stroke, and its impact is
traumatic.”
To find out more and to sponsor Aaron, visit
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/aaron-davies-whatstroke1
About the Stroke Association
Over 88,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is
just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.
Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children – anyone can have a
stroke, and its impact is traumatic.
Brain damage, caused by a stroke, can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak or
even swallow.
The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing life-long support for
all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of
thousands of stroke survivors each year, fund vital scientific research, and campaign
to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke
Anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke
Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times
are tough.
You can follow us on X, Facebook , Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn
About Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health
At Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health, we are dedicated to creating a community where men
feel empowered to open-up about their mental health without fear of judgment or stigma.
Founded with the belief that no one should feel alone in their struggles, LTMMH strives to
foster meaningful conversations, provide resources, and build connections that make a real
difference in the lives of men and their families.”
Website – Facebook – Instagram – Youtube
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