Words by Smiley Team
On his 20th birthday, a young man who survived a life-threatening stroke has received a message of thanks for his heroic fundraising from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Connor Lynes was found collapsed on his bathroom floor aged 14 a day after being tackled while playing rugby. Following the incident, doctors discovered he had a blood clot in his brain that caused him to have a stroke.
Defying all odds, he made a brilliant recovery and went on to raise over £50,000 for different charities supporting children living with disabilities that impede their everyday lives.
Today, just after his 20th birthday, he is celebrating his astonishing survival as well as the achievements that followed, which won him a Diana Award in 2019.
In a tweet, Lynes said: “On Tuesday I turn 20, I'm proud, I'm strong, I am me #neversaynever #Survivor.”
The duke and duchess responded: “Happy Birthday Connor! You're now much more than a #Survivor @DianaAward."
Through his charitable work, the remarkable young man has spoken at one of The Stroke Association’s childhood stroke support and information days and worked with a huge range of charities to raise awareness and fundraise.
After returning to playing rugby for his local team in Hull, he has taken on a variety of intensive challenges to raise money for organisations who helped him through his recovery. These include MND Association, which supports those with motor neurone disease; L52 Paediatric Neurosciences LGI, a specialist care unit for children requiring neurological care; and State of Mind, an organisation promoting good mental health in young sports players.
Lynes even started his own charitable initiative, Team Connor Lynes, to help fundraise for the organisations mentioned here along with many others.
To help him further his fundraising journey with future challenges, keep an eye on his fundraising page, from which you can follow links to sponsor his efforts and help those, like Lynes, who suffer from brain injuries or restrictive conditions.
