A project has been completed by Band of Builder, the national construction charity, for a Leicestershire man who suffered a stroke just six weeks before his wedding day.
Jonathan Coleman, who was 48 years-old when he suffered the stroke in 2018, has lost the use of the left side of his body. Although specialist rehabilitation has helped him regain the ability to walk with a stick and a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) device, he still cannot use his left hand.
The uneven and slippery surfaces outside his home had become a major obstacle, with Coleman suffering a number of falls while trying to get between the house and its two driveways.
Now, a team of volunteer landscapers have transformed the front of the property by digging up the two existing drives and the grassed area between them to create one large block-paved area. The new layout incorporates a gentle slope to the front door, removing the need for steps and provides a safer, more accessible route to the home.
Seeing the completed transformation for the first time, an emotional Coleman thanked the volunteers: "I want to thank each and every one of you because what you have done is amazing and it will make my life so much easier getting in and out of the house."
Coleman had worked in the construction industry since leaving school, undertaking a variety of roles including bricklaying, groundwork and concrete finishing. He spent the majority of his career with Quadro, where he worked for 14 years, and a further four years with Explore Manufacturing, part of Laing O'Rourke.
In July 2018, Jonathan was driving to work when he began to feel unwell. He returned home, where Angela, his then wife-to-be, recognised the signs of a stroke using the FAST acronym and immediately called 999. A first responder arrived within minutes, followed by an ambulance, and Jonathan was taken to hospital within 30 minutes of the initial emergency call.
He spent the following three months in hospital and specialist neurological rehabilitation in London. Through determination and rehabilitation, Jonathan has recovered sufficiently to walk with the assistance of an FES device (which supports foot drop) and a walking stick.
During his treatment, brain scans also revealed two tumours, neither of which was related to the stroke. One was removed in October 2019, while the other has been deemed inoperable because of its proximity to the area of the brain affected by the stroke.
Despite the progress Jonathan has made, the uneven drives, grassed area and slippery quarry-tiled step at the entrance to his home continued to present significant difficulties. Angela approached Band of Builders after seeing the charity discussed on an episode of DIY SOS.
The project – which was sponsored by Marshalls – was delivered by a team of nine volunteers over seven days, and is the latest example of the charity's mission to support tradespeople, construction workers and their families through crisis by providing practical help, emotional support and financial assistance when illness, injury or life-changing circumstances make everyday living unsafe or unmanageable.
James Crabtree, Key Account Director from Marshalls said: "Band of Builders does a great job of supporting people from the industry when they need it most and we were more than happy to support this project and help make Jonathan's day-to-day life easier and safer with new paved areas."
Volunteer Project Lead Darren King said: "All the volunteers have been incredibly hard working and have all worked as a team to deliver this in less than a week."
Band of Builders also wishes to thank its supporters and sponsors who provided materials, equipment and expertise, as well as local businesses that supplied food and refreshments. These included Jewson, Marshalls, and Reconomy.
