Catterick teenager completes half marathon to give back to hospital after stroke recovery
Tom Davies raises over £1k for hospital that aided his extraordinary recovery
Tom Davies, a 17-year-old boarding student from Ripon Grammar School, completed his first half marathon, raising money for the hospital that played a pivotal role in his recovery from a stroke three years ago.
Tom, originally from Catterick, suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage during a swimming session at Richmond Dales Amateur Swimming Club when he was just 14.
Two years and eight months after this life-changing event, Tom’s aim was to simply complete the Great North Run.
However, he surpassed expectations by finishing in two hours and 43 seconds.
“I was just aiming just to complete it but was over the moon to achieve that time,” he said, jokingly adding that he might try to get under two hours next time.
Overcoming obstacles
Back in January 2024, Tom was participating in a swim when he noticed his fingers were not functioning properly, and his stroke began to falter.
Shortly after, he struggled to communicate with his coach, unaware of the severity of his condition.
Tom had suffered a haemorrhagic stroke caused by a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM), resulting in significant medical intervention and rehabilitation.
He was initially taken to James Cook University Hospital and later transferred to the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, where he spent four months undergoing intensive therapy.
This journey entailed learning to walk, talk, write, and process information once more.
Tom credits the dedication of the hospital staff for their exceptional care, stating: “Without this help I would not be back on my journey to completing A-levels and looking forward to a future engineering career.”
Giving back
Tom’s motivation to run the Great North Run stems from a desire to give back to the hospital that supported him through the most challenging period of his life.
His mother, Rachel, expressed immense pride in Tom's achievements, describing his journey from relearning basic motor functions to running a half marathon as "amazing."
Ripon Grammar School’s special educational needs coordinator, Mrs Samina O’Brien, praised Tom's resilience and hard work, noting how his determination serves as an example for what students can achieve.
Tom aims to further his impact with plans to tackle the 192-mile Coast to Coast Walk next year.
You can donate to Tom’s appeal here: https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/thomas-d