Ann Clark Braveheart Volunteer

Ann Clark, 40 years old and happily married with two kids tells us her story.

“I have lived in Clacks all my life.  I started off working in the textile industry, that is sadly no longer there.  I now work full time for Tesco as a fresh manager. Brought up in the mar policies now living in Fishcross.  I have lived with high blood pressure for 23  years, at 17 years old (well a month before I turned 18) my blood pressure went too high, reaching dangerous levels, causing me to have a stroke. 

I joined Braveheart to see if I can help anyone in a similar situation that I have been in, I already find it rewarding & met lots of great people with lots of  knowledge & tons of patience & are great sounding boards.

I am a mentor for Braveheart & a walk leader.

On a recent walk with Braveheart I was speaking to a lady in her mid 50’s she asked me why I came to Braveheart & I told her my story.  She turned around to me with a strange look on her face and said “I was feeling sorry for myself this morning.  I had a few aches & pains, I was not going to come today, I was saying to myself why me at this age when I'm just ready to retire & enjoy my life”.  Then I spoke to you & now I think differently, I have had a extra 30 years of good health & feel a bit selfish for feeling the way I did this morning.  Did you ever think why me?  I said “yeah I did then I thought why not me?  I’m not any different from anyone else.  I have learned so much from this happening to me, I deal with stress differently & I have a different attitude to life & know my limits & don’t push pass them.  She then replied. I am so glad I came along today, you have inspired me so much.  You have a positive attitude to all of this & turned your illness into a positive influence.  I will now come back and now look at life different too.”