A West Kilbride mum and two-time stroke survivor will be participating in a Kiltwalk with her son for charity.

Leeann Armstrong, 47, and her son Mason, 10, will be walking the Wee Wander in Balloch this April 30 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.

She suffered her first stroke in 2019 – just a year after she had participated in her first Kiltwalk – while celebrating her forty-fourth birthday with her husband Thomas.

She said: “I couldn’t have imagined what was going to happen to me when I did my first Kiltwalk.

“I want to do something for other people in the same situation. Mason has been so good with me in my recovery, so he wants to be part of the fundraising effort.”

“I had some physio in hospital, but there were no female spaces available at the stroke rehabilitation ward, and I just wanted to get home. The doctors weren’t happy, but eventually they let me go.

“I did get some physio over the next couple of months, but that all stopped when Covid-19 hit. I have a walking stick to use outside, but I can get around the house myself.”

It took 36 hours since the onset of her first stroke for Leeann to contact A&E where she was sent directly to Crosshouse Hospital and ended up staying for three weeks.

After suffering a second stroke in 2020, Leeann has limited movement on her left side and impaired vision.

However, she manages to stay active and works on her fitness and balance by using a walking machine.

She added: “I started having trouble with my vision in August 2020, and a scan showed that I’d had a second stroke.

“I have a white stick I can use, but I find the other walking stick easier to manage with.

“The machine has been great for me, although Mason uses it more!

“We’re hoping for lots of support from family and friends to get a big total and hoping for good weather on the day.”

To make her fundraiser easy to donate to, Leeann has started a Just Giving page.

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland are more than grateful for Leeann and Mason’s efforts to raise not just money but awareness of strokes.

Community, Events and Corporate Fundraiser Louise Macleod, said: “We are so grateful to Leeann and Mason for undertaking this challenge to raise awareness of stroke and also to fundraise to support other people across Scotland living with chest, heart and stroke conditions to live their lives to the full.”

Donate to Leeann and Mason’s fundraiser here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leeann-mason-armstrong.