WHEN Paul Pickford suffered a massive stroke at work two years ago he was told it was unlikely he would ever eat, speak or regain his bodily movement ever again.

But against all the odds, Mr Pickford is on the road to recovery — he is able to have three meals a day, is starting to improve his speech and has got his limb movement back.

As a reward for his bravery and resilience, he l receive £27,000 over the next 12 months from the Seven Families charity campaign, aimed at raising public awareness of the financial impact of long term illness or disability.

The funding will be split between living expenses, equipment and services to aid his recovery.

Prior to suffering the brain stem stroke in November 2012, Mr Pickford ran a car dealership in Cross Hills, Yorkshire, where he commuted from Bolton. After the stroke, he was treated at a hospital in Yorkshire and his wife of nine years Vicky moved up there for 15 months to be with him until he was discharged.

Mr Pickford, who moved back to Bolton in April this year, is now paralysed and cared for full-time by Mrs Pickford, but is determined to get back to work and plans to start his own business.

To communicate, Mr Pickford uses a Tobii i-12 eye gaze computer, which speaks whatever he types.

However, he is able to move his tongue and hold small conversations.

Mr Pickford, aged 44, of Smithills, said: “Initially the medical prognosis was pretty bleak.

“I really did not see the point of continuing — the thought of just existing as a vegetable had no appeal.

“Not being able to work, which I loved, or live the life I had before was a very real worry.

“Leaving hospital in that state was a real blow.”

With his options running out, Mr Pickford read on the Internet that several people with similar conditions had made considerable recoveries.

This discovery encouraged him to move back to Bolton to be nearer his family and friends.

Since he has come home, Mr Pickford has been receiving support from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s community stroke team and Susan Pattison Neurological Physiotherapist Ltd in Bury.

He said: “I am still at the beginning of a very long road, and with the help of my wife Vicky who has been instrumental in getting me this far, I have new found optimism that, aided by Seven Families, I can make even further progress.”

Mrs Pickford, aged 39, added: “Paul’s done fantastically well — he’s a very strong person and every small improvement in him makes a big difference.

“We both have an amazing amount of gratitude for Seven Families for the help they’ve given us.

“We have also been very lucky with the stroke team and the physiotherapists — they’ve been great with Paul.”

The Seven Families campaign, which is backed by some of the biggest companies in the UK, will provide financial support for one year to the breadwinners of seven families who are currently unable to work through ill health or accident.

Mr Pickford is the third beneficiary of the campaign, with another four to be announced over the next couple of months.