SINGLE mum Louise Palfreyman has been overwhelmed by the support she has received to help improve her life following a devastating stroke.

The stroke has left the 32-year-old from Hartford partially-sighted, walking is difficult and she suffers from continual spasms in her left arm.

Louise is hoping a course of Botox injections will stop the spasms, and her friend is raising money to pay for private treatment because of the wait through the NHS.

Each course of treatment will cost £900, and Becky Elliott from Antrobus has raised £1,350 for the injections on a gofundme online donations page.

In addition dozens of people have signed up for a marathon fitness class at BTB Fitness Academy in Winsford to boost the fundraising for the injections.

It costs £10 to take part in the fundraiser, which takes place on Sunday, May 8, from 10am to 1.30pm, and BTB owner Adam Murphy is encouraging as many people to enter as possible to raise as much as he can.

Taking part in the fitness day will be Louise’s 10-year-old daughter Alisha, who attends Hartford Primary School, and is doing a 24-hour sponsored silence to boost the fundraising. Also taking part in the fitness day will be Alisha's school friend Eleanor Senior.

Louise decided to go public with her story to raise awareness of the risks of being on the pill while smoking, and is urging women taking the pill who have migraines, whether they smoke or not, to see their GP.

“The stroke has changed my outlook on life, and the little things as well,” said Louise.

“I always tell Alisha now that I love her before she goes to school.”

Louise suffered a stroke in June last year, believing at first she was having another of the migraines she had been suffering from for two years.

“I woke up and had a really bad migraine, and after seeing Alisha off to school I put the kettle on,” she said.

“My vision was going blurry, and I thought I would take some painkillers and go to bed and sleep it off.

“I sat down to have a drink and got a shooting pain behind my right eye, and all the way down my left side went cold. When I went to stand up I collapsed.”

Luckily Louise’s phone was in her right pocket, and despite her blurred vision she managed to call 999.

She was taken to hospital, where she had surgery to remove a clot on her brain. She was paralysed down her left side, but has regained the ability to walk, although with difficulty, following daily rehabilitation support.

Her next goal is to seek treatment to end the spasms, although she has been told a course of injections will last for only three to four months and will leave her arm numb.

“I am in horrendous pain because my muscles are in constant spasm, and they only stop when I’m asleep,” said Louise.

“The stroke has changed my life, and I can’t be the mum I want to be to Alisha. I can’t do her hair any more, and we can’t bake any more – it’s horrible.

“Because of the spasms I can’t even butter a sandwich because I can’t pin anything down with my left hand, and things like taking the top off the toothpaste and washing my hair are incredibly difficult.

“Although the stroke has changed life for me and Alisha I’ve been incredibly lucky because I’m still here and Alisha still has her mum.

“She is my little star and my rock, and my family and friends have been a massive support.

“I also can’t thank everyone enough for supporting Becky’s gofundme page and signing up for the event at BTB in Winsford.

“It takes a lot to make my cry, and they have made me cry.”

People can donate to Louise’s medical treatment at Arabica Caffe at Gadbrook Park, BTB, Cosy Kitchen, Northwich Tanning, So Glamorous and Feathers Academy. To support the online donations page visit www.gofundme.com/6vvtd6h8

To sign up for the fitness marathon email info@btbfitnessacademy.co.uk, visit the BTB Facebook page or ring 01606 552196. Raffles prizes are being invited for the event.