Mr Gallagher was a non-smoker with no family history of stroke and was taken by surprise when he suffered a stroke that almost killed him last year.

Mr Gallagher has since almost fully recovered, and felt he should use his good fortune to help others.

To help raise awareness about stroke, Mr Gallagher and his life-long friend Ryan Ford rode their bicycles from Narre Warren to Sale on October 16.

The 175km ride took the men over six hours in the pouring rain but they claim it was worth it to make more people aware of the symptoms and risks of stroke.

Mr Gallagher urged people, young and old, not to ignore the signs of stroke.

"The best way to remember is to think of FAST, and then get medical attention as soon as you can,'' he said.

FAST is the Stroke Association of Victoria's easy way for everyone to recognise the signs of stroke:

Facial weakness - can the person smile?

Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?

Speech difficulty - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Time to act fast - seek medical attention immediately.

For more, read Friday's Gippsland Times.