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Every year 150,000 people in the UK have a Stroke, that's one every 5 minutes and out of these 25% will be under the age of 65. It is the third highest cause of death after Cancer and Heart Disease however, it remains relatively low profile.

Stroke can affect anyone either directly or indirectly, it is totally nondiscriminatory.  Stroke has a devastating effect not just on the stroke survivor but also those around them, the result can quite simply be life changing.  I wouldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams or "nightmares" that stroke would have entered our lifes.  

Steve had a stoke in January 2011 at the age of 50, which affected the right side of his body, his speech and communication.  Steve had had a 27 year career in law enforcement at that time.  He had always been keen on sport having played rugby and squash, once his rugby days had finished he maintained a good level of fitness, despite having had a heart valve replacement in 2006.  Steve's stroke was as a result of an infection to the heart, within a week of his initial admission into hospital had to undergo lifesaving open heart surgery.  Steve was discharged home after eleven weeks in hospital.  Steve has had to retire from his work on the grounds of ill-health, life is very different for him now in so many ways.

Whilst in hospital it almost feels like you are protected from reality, it is when the stroke survivor is discharged "back into the community" that reality strikes.  It is then that the realisation that 'Life is not as it was' hits home.  As wives we became carers and as stroke survivors there is a degree of dependency on others due to varying levels of disability that have affected independence.

Whilst we clearly would not have chosen to be where we are today there is, nevertheless  "Life after Stroke"; we can still achieve much, fulfil dreams and enjoy life but we may just have to adapt the way we do it

I am now absolutely passionate about doing all I can to help to raise stroke awareness.  Our group in Andover, ALAS-Andover Life After Stroke, for younger stroke survivors is growing from strength to strength.  However, whilst we are helping to provide more support  and raise funds in our community it just evidences how many lives are affected by stroke In a small town.

Please help me to raise stroke awareness and donate to The Stroke Association, they do amazing work in supporting stroke survivors and their  carers whilst carrying valuable research into stroke rehabilitation and stroke prevention.

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So please dig deep and donate now.