A FATHER-of-three who suffered a stroke on the last day of a holiday with his wife has raised over £20,000 for a charity which helped him rebuild his life

Chris Jolliffe, 50, who is from Blackburn, was enjoying a holiday on the Amalfi Coast in Italy with his wife Louise in 2017, when he woke up on the last day and found he was struggling to speak.

Mr Jolliffe went to the airport, despite feeling unwell. After attempting to sleep it off when he arrived home, he dialled 111 in the morning and was in Royal Blackburn Hospital within half an hour, where he was told he’d had a stroke.

He said: “When we got home I thought it would all be gone and I’d be fine, but of course I wasn’t. I spent four days with the wonderful staff on the stroke ward in hospital and I’ve been extremely lucky.

"My speech was affected for a while, but it’s now improved and fortunately I haven’t been left with any lasting effects. I returned to work as a senior IT manager for QVC on a phased return, and I’m now back to working full time.”

After his stroke, Mr Jolliffe joined the Blackburn couch-to-5k group to improve his health and wellbeing.

As soon as he was back at work he threw himself into giving something back to the Stroke Association.

Mr Jolliffe successfully nominated the Stroke Association as one of the charities of the year at QVC and he helped to co-ordinate their fundraising activities.

The charity of the year initiative raised £16,000 for the Stroke Association.

In addition, Mr Jolliffe has taken on his own fundraising efforts, including running a half marathon and inviting friends and family to donate to the charity instead of giving gifts for his 50th birthday.

Mr Jolliffe added: “The Stroke Association’s Stroke Recovery Service was there for me after my stroke to help with information and advice. I knew I wanted to give something back."

To sponsor Mr Jolliffe, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-jolliffepurple