A DAD left partially paralysed by a stroke has astounded friends and family by walking his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

Steven Moss needed the help of carers four times a day after suffering a stroke following a kidney transplant last year.

After being in hospital for six months, doctors said they did not know if the 56-year-old would walk again, yet with grit and determination, he was able to escort his daughter Aimee down the aisle.

“Everyone in the church was choked up seeing him walking with Aimee. No one believed he’d be able to do it,” says Steven’s wife Deborah.

“When Steve left hospital he was really depressed. He couldn’t do anything for himself, but now he has built up enough strength to get out of the wheelchair and he can walk around the house for short periods with a stick. He’s got much more confidence.

“We don’t know how much more he’ll progress, but given that we were initially told he’d never be able to get himself out of bed, who knows what the future holds?”

Mr Moss, from Grays, was able to walk again just six months after joining Impulse Leisure’s Stroke Exercise Group at Blackshots Leisure Centre.

Specialist instructor Wendy Barnard, who leads the exercise group, helped Steven out of the car and to the church door.

She said: “When Steven joined the group he was unable to get out of his wheelchair at all, so we focussed on wheelchair transfers – getting in and out of the chair – as well as balance work.

“Steven learned to take steps first before progressing to climbing a small step, and we also developed his upper-body strength, worked on his core and got him cycling to get some movement back into his hips.”

Knowing how much he wanted to walk his daughter down the aisle, Wendy would give Mr Moss extra coaching after the group session.

“It has been really hard work for Steven.

“Sometimes when it got difficult and he wanted to give up, I’d remind him that he was doing this for his daughter, which gave him the encouragement to push on. It’s an amazing achievement.”

Steven attends the class twice a week.

It takes place in Blackshots’ Kinesis Suite, a specialist exercise studio that uses pulley systems to provide a safe and effective workout without impacting joints.

Class sizes are limited to 10 people to ensure participants get the attention they need.

The Impulse Leisure exercise group has proved a lifeline, says Steven’s wife Deborah.

! For more information about Impulse Leisure’s Exercise on Referral Programme, speak to your GP or health professional.