A STROKE survivor from Colchester is taking part in a long-term research study to find treatment.

Wendy Radford didn’t know she had high cholesterol when she had a stroke leaving her severely ill ten years ago.

Although the 62-year-old can now walk again, the risk of another stroke meant Wendy was happy to sign up for a research study at Colchester Hospital looking into new treatment options to lower her cholesterol level.

Gazette: Celebrating - Wendy and Dodge married last yearCelebrating - Wendy and Dodge married last year (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust)

ORION-4, a five-year research study, aims to test if a new cholesterol-lowering medication, Inclisiran, safely reduces the risk of heart attacks or strokes in people who have had one of these conditions.

Wendy said her stroke was caused by two blood clots in her brain stem and another clot in her brain probably as a result of having high cholesterol.

She added: "Having a stroke was a complete surprise – I didn’t know I had high cholesterol.

Gazette: Research - 62-year-old can now walk again, the risk of another stroke meant Wendy was happy to sign up for a research study at Colchester HospitalResearch - 62-year-old can now walk again, the risk of another stroke meant Wendy was happy to sign up for a research study at Colchester Hospital (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex foundation trust)

"I was very poorly and had to stay in Colchester Hospital for ten days - ten years on, my vision is still affected, I get tired and I am walking again but not very far.

"I was more than happy to take part in the study. I had to commit to five years and have regular injections in my stomach and blood tests taken."

Wendy, who now volunteers for the Salvation Army where she met her husband, doesn’t know whether she’s getting the medication as half of the participants receive the drug and half a placebo.

Gazette: Symptoms - Ten years after the stroke, Wendy's vision is still affectedSymptoms - Ten years after the stroke, Wendy's vision is still affected (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust)

Doctor Ramachandran Sivakumar, a consultant physician, said: "We hope the study results will show whether adding this novel drug to our standard cholesterol-lowering medication will give patients added protection.

"This drug works in a clever way by blocking the production of a key protein which plays an important role in cholesterol levels.

"Though this drug is currently approved for use and we know this drug reduces cholesterol, we don’t yet know whether it reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes."