Chelsea Reid was a fit and healthy 22-year-old when stroke changed her life.
The Kingscliff woman was experiencing slurred speech and weakness on one side of her body back in 2019.
"My partner Hayden knew something was not right, he thought I was potentially having a panic attack and called an ambulance," Chelsea said.
"At hospital an MRI confirmed it was a stroke. I was there for nearly four months before I was allowed to go home.
"My rehab journey was both brutal and rewarding. Each day I would do two hours of physiotherapy, two hours of speech therapy and two hours of occupational therapy."
Chelsea says she was determined to get better and put everything she could into her recovery.
"I refused to just lay in bed, there were times I was even doing laps of my hospital room," she said.
Seven years later, Chelsea is now mum to two little boys, three-year-old Fraser and one-year-old Levi. She says being a mum is the best job she's ever had.
"Chasing after my boys is my rehab now, I cook for them, read them books, get them dressed, and bathe them. These daily activities are all variations of things I would do previously in my rehab before kids," she said.
"Even just walking with my eldest to kindy is a form of rehab for me and I'm getting better every day."
This month, Chelsea is participating in Stroke Foundation's 131K in May which highlights the fact that 131 Australians of all ages have a stroke each day.
Chelsea has already tripled her fundraising goal, raising more than $3,000 and counting.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said being inactive can increase your stroke risk.
"We know more than half (56 per cent) of Australian adults do not do the recommended amount of physical activity, which is two and a half hours a week, and 15 per cent of adults do no exercise at all," Dr Murphy said.
"The fact that Chelsea can incorporate her daily tasks as a busy mum into her rehabilitation, all while raising vital funds for Stroke Foundation is remarkable."
An Australian has a stroke every 11 minutes, and Chelsea is one of more than 140,000 New South Wales residents living with stroke.
Support Chelsea's fundraiser at the website: https://www.fundraise4stroke.org.au/fundraisers/chelseareid/131km-in-may
