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Blog: "Sport has been a constant support for me"

The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday. This year, we’ll be sharing the experiences of disabled people and those who support disabled people, on their journey to being more active. This week, Geoff Render, tells us about re-discovering the benefits of being active as a stroke survivor.

Geoff riding tricycle on closed road circuit track

My name is Geoff Render, I’m 39 years old and I live in Leeds. I am a swimming teacher at my local pool. I have asthma and hypermobility syndrome, which can affect my joints. In September 2015 I had a stroke.

Before my stroke, I was a very active and sporty person. Not a natural born athlete by any means, but I did enjoy going for a swim and going to the gym. I have always struggled with my weight. So in 2008 I started getting active and lost a lot of weight, probably too much looking back on it.

After my stroke I wanted to get back to all the things I enjoyed doing before, like running, swimming and cycling. I was back in the pool five days after my stroke, but it didn’t go to plan - I sunk! Similarly, I started riding a tricycle three months after my stroke but needed adapted pedals as my foot kept falling off. Re-training my muscles to do these activities was very challenging. Six weeks after my stroke I completed my first Parkrun.

I always feel better after being active, it helps me to relax and feel healthier. However I do have to pace myself because I get tired very quickly. Running and walking seem to affect me the most. I usually have a sleep for couple of hours after Parkrun. A lot of planning goes into my daily life as the fatigue can be unpredictable.

I have made lots of friends since I started running, taking part in triathlons and playing for the local pool team. Sport is a very social activity and there is a role for everyone, whether you want to take part, officiate or volunteer. Sometimes my main motivation for going to training or taking part in an event is to catch up with friends. I have had some tough times with work, family and my stroke - sport has been a constant support for me. 

I believe that being active before my stroke has definitely helped with my recovery, and I am involved with a charity called Different Strokes that supports young stroke survivors. Many of their groups use exercise and sport as part of rehabilitation to improve their physical and mental health.

Different Strokes helps younger stroke survivors and their families to achieve an active recovery throughout their lives. For more information visit Different Strokes website. 

If you want to be more active but aren’t sure how to start, visit our dedicated webpages for advice.