Competing in a major bodybuilding competition was something Katelyn Beacroft never thought would be possible after a devastating stroke at just 28 years old.
The Rockhampton woman was on holidays with her partner Michael on the Sunshine Coast in October 2021, when she began feeling unwell.
“I lost all motor control, and I couldn’t speak. Thankfully, Michael recognised something was seriously wrong and called an ambulance,” Katelyn said.
“The paramedics mentioned I may be having a stroke, and I thought surely not, strokes only happened to the elderly. I’ve since learned they can happen to anyone, at any time.”
After being told she’d had a serious stroke, Katelyn was transferred from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to Royal Brisbane Women’s for treatment and rehabilitation.
“After my stroke I was absolutely determined to rewire my brain, I know that our brains still have a neuroplastic quality, even after age 25,” she said.
“So, I threw everything I had into my recovery. I would wake up early and do my physio exercise and stay up late doing my speech therapy. My recovery is still ongoing even two years later, but I’m proud of how far I have come.”
Katelyn recently took on her biggest challenge yet, competing in the ICN Queensland bodybuilding competition.
“It was something I had always dreamed of doing, but that was put on hold after my stroke so I could focus on my recovery and rehabilitation,” she said.
“In September I was able to make that dream a reality. I am so proud of what I have achieved. Now I’m participating in Stride4Stroke to help educate more people and to raise much-needed funds for survivors of stroke like me.”
Stride4Stroke is the Stroke Foundation’s major annual fundraiser. Participants are encouraged to set an activity goal to increase their daily ‘moving minutes’. They can choose any activity to complete within the month, from walking, running, swimming, cycling, an online exercise class or a goal in stroke rehabilitation. The options are endless.
Katelyn said she’s increasing her moving minutes this month by going for walks, hiking, doing yoga and lifting weights.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy applauded Katelyn for her efforts and urged Queenslanders to follow in her footsteps by signing up to Stride4Stroke and making their moves count this November.
“We know that 80 per cent of strokes are preventable, and taking steps to adopt a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk,” Dr Murphy said.
“Stride4Stroke is a great starting point to make the changes that can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes which are all modifiable risk factors of stroke.”
