Dumbarton Man Laces Up for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland 

When Colin Critchley started the Glasgow 10K on Sunday he was  joined by friends to encourage him along the route.  

But the memory of his dad Graeme was also with him every step of the way. 

The supermarket area manager lost his dad in December to a stroke and wanted to do something to honour the 70-year-old. 

Colin, 41, said: “My dad was a pretty healthy guy, he golfed three times a week. 

“There was no real warning before his stroke and he was in hospital for roughly three weeks before he died. It was really, really tough. 

“At New Year I heard the advert for the Glasgow 10K taking place on Father’s Day so I thought that would be quite fitting to raise some money for a charity. When I looked into it, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland seemed like the perfect choice to after what happened to my dad. 

“I’ve roped in a couple of friends to get me around because I don’t like running, I actually despise it! 

“But if I’m having a bad run in my training what keeps me going is the thought that my dad is with me all the way which is comforting and sad.” 

Graeme had a headache the day before he had his stroke but there were no other warning signs. 

Colin said: “He wasn’t the type to go to the doctors with any aches and pains. 

“I knew things were bad when my mum said he was in an ambulance. He was in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and they said it was a stroke. He wasn’t that bad at that point as he was still able to talk and walk with a walking aid. It was a couple of days later he lost his speech and the feeling down his right side. It transpired he had a second stroke.. 

“He must have been in for roughly three weeks. There were signs of improvement and then he would be sleeping all the time and it was really hard to watch to be honest. It was tough.” 

Aimee Russell, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Community Events and Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We are so grateful to Colin for choosing to support CHSS and wish him all the best for Sunday’s run. 

“Everyone has a reason for their fundraising and Colin’s story is a really powerful one. Money raised by generous people like Colin help us to support the 1 in 5 people across Scotland living with a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid  to live their lives fully.” 

To support Colin’s fundraiser please go to www.justgiving.com/page/colin-critchley-1. 

If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid and looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.