A MAN who suffered from a stroke was left fearing he wouldn’t be able to walk his beloved dog Alfie.
When William Gallagher was discharged from hospital, he struggled to even walk half a mile. But the inspirational Glasgow man was determined to get back on his feet.
The 69-year-old, from Drumchapel, is now an avid member of his local walking group, two years on from his stroke in July 2019.
He said: “When I had my stroke, the doctors at the hospital told me it was actually the second one I’d had, but I had no idea anything had happened to me.
“When I got home, I tried to walk the dog. I used to walk everywhere for miles, but I couldn’t even go half a mile. I was so disappointed that I didn’t have the energy.
“But Alfie went to stay with my son for a few weeks and I began to recuperate. I didn’t want to walk with a stick, so I started walking wee distances, from the house to the paper shop.
“When Alfie came home, I was able to take him out again, and we now walk about two and a half miles every morning. Then I do my other walks.”
William has been using his love of walking to spread kindness throughout the area to celebrate Thank You Day – a nationwide celebration encouraging people to get together safely and say ‘thank you’ to those in local communities who helped us get through a time like no other.
Along with members from the Drumchapel Health Walk, which is led and run by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Alliance Scotland, William and the team swapped their usual route on June 29, by stopping in at local shops and businesses to deliver thank you cards to key workers who helped the community throughout the pandemic.
The group delivered cards to people at various locations across the town centre, including Drumchapel Health Centre, Lloyds Pharmacy, Police Scotland, Fortune Works, Men Matter, the Post Office, councillor Elspeth Kerr and councillor Malcolm Balfour.
For William, the joy of being out in the fresh air has been a lifeline during the last year of lockdown and restrictions. While the weekly health walk was suspended by coronavirus restrictions, he went out walking every single day by himself.
He said: “The best thing that a walk does is help your mental health because just being out and active makes you feel good. The walking group is good for us because everyone goes at their own pace. And we’re out there, no matter the weather.
“I have lots to be thankful for. My dog Alfie gives me the motivation to get up and out every morning. My son makes sure I’m taking my tablets and gets me to hospital appointments.
“And the walking group is great company, too, because we’re all going through the same thing. I am very grateful for all the positive things in my life."
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