Stroke survivor from Aberdare, Aaron Davies, completed an ascent of Pen y Fan recently, raising £2,000 for the Stroke Association and Let’s Talk Men’s Mental Health.

Aaron, along with another stroke survivor, Leighton Jenkins, took on the challenge on Saturday, 27 September.

Aaron was just 28 when he had a life-altering stroke on Christmas Day 2021. Alone and unaware of what was happening, Aaron wasn’t found until two days later.

He doesn’t shy away from talking about the root cause of his stroke. “I used to be a big alcoholic. I became a full-blown alcoholic when I was about 23 or 24,” he said. When paramedics finally arrived, they were stunned he was still alive. “The ambulance crew were surprised I was even still alive when they arrived.”

Aaron’s stroke left him with fatigue, incontinence, speech and memory problems, sensory changes, and mobility issues.

One of the key spaces that has helped Aaron rebuild is the local Men’s Group in Aberdare, which meets every Thursday from 6pm to 8pm at Aberdare Fire Station. The format is simple: peer support in a relaxed, open setting.

After conquering Pen y Fan, the victorious Aaron said: "Taking on Pen y Fan was one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced, around 3.5 to 4 hours of real graft and hard work. But every step was worth it, knowing it was all for such an important cause. I’m proud to have raised £2,000 so far, with donations still open, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s supported me along the way. It wasn’t easy, but it feels incredible to have reached the top. Now it’s onto the next challenge!"

Stroke Association: https://www.stroke.org.uk

Let’s Talk Mens Mental Health: https://ltmmh.org.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoop8n-h4cc68AjctxnSRgN3qrB15G1Ht5wBSr015K_ytijoioxb