WHEN William Gallagher came home from hospital after treatment for a stroke, he wanted to take his beloved dog Alfie for a walk.

“Alfie and I used to walk everywhere, for miles – but I couldn’t do it,” he says.

“I couldn’t even go half a mile and I was so disappointed I didn’t have the energy.”

Recovery after a life-changing event like a stroke, heart attack or chest condition such as COPD or Covid 19 does not stop when you leave hospital.

Glasgow Times: William Gallagher and Alfie

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) is there to help people like William live life to the full again, and transition from hospital to home.

For William, who is 69 and lives in Drumchapel, weekly health walks run by CHSS in his area have been a ‘lifeline’.

Even though it is just once a week, William and chihuahua Alfie now get out every single day – and a boost from the Glasgow Times Cash for Charities campaign could help others going through a similar experience.

Glasgow Times: William and Kevin from the CHSS Drumchapel walking group

CHSS, Maggie’s Glasgow and Beloved Rabbits are three Glasgow good causes up for a share of a £20,000 cash pot as part of the initiative.

There are eight Scottish charities in the running – the others are Ardgowan Hospice, Man On Inverclyde, Erskine, Calum’s Cabin and Autism Rocks. All eight will receive a share of the £20,000 but how it is divided is up to you – our readers – to decide.

Our parent company’s charitable arm, The Gannett Foundation, is providing the cash. To determine how the £20,000 is allocated, readers are invited to collect tokens which appear in our newspapers every day during November until the closing date.

Glasgow Times: William, second right, and his walking group friends delivered thank you cards around the area

You can then drop your tokens at collection points across our region, including supermarkets, restaurants and other prominent locations, or post them to Glasgow Times Readers’ Choice Cash for Charities Nominations, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG. You can also drop them in to our offices at 194 Bath Street.

Tokens must arrive by the closing date of Sunday, November 28. Each token collected will then be used to allocate cash to the nominated charity – so if your favourite charity collects 50 percent of all tokens collected, it will receive £10,000.

Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “CHSS’s share of the £20,000 will go towards helping people in Glasgow who are struggling to walk, to talk, to get out and about and live their lives to the full, after a lifechanging event like a stroke, heart attack or a diagnosis of chest condition.

“The Hospital to Home service is a nationwide network of local support groups, nurses and one-to-one support teams who help people like William to recover well and get back on their feet.”

William was discharged from hospital five days after having his stroke.

He explains: “When I had my stroke, the doctors at the hospital told me it was actually the second one I’d had, but I had no idea anything had happened to me.

“When I got home I sent Alfie to stay with my son for a few weeks and I began to recuperate. I didn’t want to walk with a stick, so I started walking wee distances, from the house to the paper shop.

“When Alfie came home, I was able to take him out again, and we now walk about two and a half miles every morning.

“Then I do my other walks.”

William initially joined a walking group in nearby Clydebank, but two months later he joined the CHSS health walking group run by Kevin Miller, CHSS Health Defence Coordinator in Drumchapel.

The group is run in partnership with the Alliance Scotland Community Links Practitioners who are based in Drumchapel health centre and is supported by Paths for All.

READ MORE: Take out a Glasgow Times subscription - and help city good causes support people in need

For William, the joy of being out in the fresh air has been a lifeline during the last year of lockdown and COVID restrictions.

While the weekly health walk was suspended , he still went out walking every day by himself, doing five or six miles at a time.

“A walk helps your mental health, just being out and active makes you feel good,” he says.

“The walking group is good for us because everyone goes at their own pace. And we’re out there, no matter the weather.”

William adds: “I had COVID, and I really believe I recovered so well because I was physically fit from all the walking.”

He smiles: “And as soon as I was out of isolation, I was backout pounding the streets and I feel better than ever.”