Press release -
Local business goes purple-fingered to support the Stroke Association
Staff at Lloyds Bank turned purple-fingered this Action on Stroke Month, grabbing their spades and brooms to volunteer their time gardening at the Stroke Association’s Life after Stroke Centre in Bromsgrove.
On Thursday 14 May, 47 members of Lloyds Bank staff took time to help tidy the courtyard and flowerbeds at the Centre after their colleague sadly passed from a stroke 8 months ago.
In August last year, Lloyds Associate Relationship Manager, Helen Reilly, had a devastating stroke at the age of only 43 years old.
Staff from Lloyds Bank wanted to raise £43,000, a thousand for every year of Helen’s life, and have so far raised jus over £20,000 for the Stroke Association. Various fundraisers across the UK will help the team reach their goal.
Not only did the volunteers help in the garden, but they also met with a group of stroke survivors and carers and learnt more about stroke. Sophie James, Fundraising Manager from the Stroke Associationsaid, “We owe a big thanks to everyone from Lloyds Bank for their support on the day. We had such a great day, and although it was raining on the morning, spirits were still high, and everyone was eager to still muck in. We rely on people like the staff from Lloyds Bank to help us change lives. The money raised will go to help prevent strokes and reduce their effect through campaigning, education and research, and also to help support the 120,000 people adjusting to a life after stroke in the West Midlands.”
Sophie continued, “We’d also like to thank Bromsgrove District Housing Trust who provided the plants and topsoil too. The generosity of both Lloyds Bank and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust has been wonderful.”
Colleagues across Lloyds Bank donated their time across the week to support Business in the Community's Give and Gain Day, which took place on 15 May 2015. Give and Gain is the UK’s largest national day of employee volunteering. Building on the success of previous events, Lloyds Banking Group increased its support from one day to an entire week, encouraging more colleagues than ever to volunteer within their communities.
For more information about stroke, please visit www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Association helpline on 0303 303 3100.
Topics
A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are around 152,000 strokes in the UK every year and it is the leading cause of severe adult disability. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
