Foyle Stroke Support Group hosted their yearly coffee morning on Tuesday to mark the 'Make May Purple for Stroke’ annual awareness and fundraising month for the Stroke Association in Northern Ireland.
Together, stroke survivors, friends and family raised £363.06, taking part in what was a very enjoyable event featuring those all-important blood pressure checks, raffle draw, music by Singer, Monica McGuigan, a Purple Quiz and plenty of great craic!
Approximately 4000 people living in Northern Ireland have a stroke every year and we know that there are around 36,000 stroke survivors who are living with the devastating effects of stroke. They rely on the support of groups like the Foyle Stroke Group for peer support, encourage recovery and to build confidence in the months and years following a stroke.
The coffee morning was an open invitation for everyone to come along and meet group members and volunteers over a cuppa and tray bake, find out more about stroke and help raise vital funds for the group’s future activities.
Volunteer, Michelle Crawford, who has had personal experience of stroke and is the group leader, said: “Make May purple is a wonderful opportunity to get information about stroke and its prevention. At our coffee mornings, people can see that there is life after stroke with the support of peers. It is a fun day out and a great chance to meet new people and help raise money for the group.”
“On behalf of the members, I’d like to thank, BBC radio Foyle, Foyleside Shopping Centre, The Everglades hotel, Altnagelvin garden centre, Winemark of Eurostar, Longfield landscapes, Lisnavar court, Monica Mcguigan, for the music, and of course, to our amazing stroke survivors, their family, our volunteers and the stroke association in Northern Ireland for their continued support.”
In the UK stroke is the leading cause of disability and there are 1.2 million people living with the physical and emotional after effects. The money raised through the Make May Purple for Stroke appeal, will enable the charity to support many more stroke survivors to regain their independence.
Mark Dyer, Volunteer and Community Manager with The Stroke Association in Northern Ireland, said: “Every year we help tens of thousands of stroke survivors and their families through our range of services and free helpline, but we can only do this through the generosity of people who get involved in Make May Purple Events”
“Make May Purple is a fun and easy way for everyone to show their support for stroke survivors and we hope that as many people as possible join in.
“I’d like to congratulate the members of Foyle Stroke Support Group and those who donated to the Coffee Morning for putting on such a great event. I thought it was extremely entertaining and certainly did ‘Make May Purple.”
To find out more about the work of the Stroke Association and how you can Make May Purple visit www.stroke.org.uk/makemaypurple.
Pictured above: Attending Foyle Stroke support Group ‘Make May Purple’ coffee morning on Tuesday, Ross MacFarlane, Mary MacFarlane, Mary Christie, Gertie Anand, Ernie gurney, Mr and Mrs McGlinchey, Stephen Nunn, Heather Madden, Eammon Flanagan, Lily and Billy mcgeady, Liam Quigley and Michelle Crawford.
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