Reclaiming lives after stroke
The next charity to receive a donation as part of the Cuttsy Cares charitable programme is Different Strokes.
1 in 4 strokes happen to people of working age and the charity provides peer support to these young stroke survivors and their families. Most of the staff and volunteers are stroke survivors themselves, family members or have a close personal connection to stroke. Their services include support groups, online forums, an information help line and family support.
The charity was nominated by HR Manager, Kate McCabe, who recently took part in the Bournemouth half-marathon to raise money for the charity, in memory of her father.
‘In November 2018 my Dad unexpectedly passed away from a stroke. I saw first-hand the devastating effects a stroke can have, so can only imagine the daily difficulties survivors must face.’
During lockdown, the charity had to adapt very quickly after their national exercise and support groups had to shut down overnight. Using dedicated funding they switched to providing online groups specifically to assist survivors with their recovery, including daily rehabilitation exercise, neuroflow Tai Chi (an alternative exercise to manage energy levels as fatigue can be a major issue after stroke) and twice monthly networking and support zoom calls. These give survivors an opportunity to interact with other stroke survivors of a similar age and chat with people who understood their experiences.
Kate’s Cuttsy Cares donation will help continue these services, providing sessions for up to 300 people, after the initial funding came to an end in October 2021.
‘Thank you so much for the donation which is going to provide continued funding for the online exercise sessions for younger stroke survivors. Often stroke survivors can become very isolated after their stroke which could be due to geographical or physical restraints; which has now been compounded by the pandemic. These sessions provide a safe space for younger survivors to continue with their physical rehabilitation. Your donation helps us to continue providing this additional support.’ Jo Aurora, Fundraising Manager, Different Strokes
