Stroke Association lends a helping hand to Nottingham stroke survivor

Stroke survivor Keith Ridley, 52, from Nottingham is hoping he’ll be able to get behind the wheel again after receiving one of the Stroke Association’s Life after Stroke Grants, thanks to funding by Royal Mail Group.

In June 2014, after a normal day at work, Keith felt overwhelmingly tired. Putting his tiredness down to a long day, he decided to go up to bed and said goodnight to his wife. It was only when he woke at around 3am to use the bathroom that Keith realised something serious was wrong.

He said, “I remember waking up in the night, which was unusual for me, but everything after that was a bit of a blur. An ambulance came quickly, but when they were asking me questions, I couldn’t respond, which was really frightening. I didn’t even know where I was for a few days.”

Keith was rushed to Nottingham City Hospital where he spent 11 days being treated following his stroke. When he arrived home, he was able to have daily physiotherapy to help him to walk again and speech therapy, to help rebuild some of his communication skills.

But Keith; who wasn’t used to staying in at home; wanted to do more. Having enjoyed caravanning before his stroke, Keith made it his goal to be able to drive again – but he needed specialist glasses to be able to pass an assessment.

Keith recalls “I really wanted to get ready for the assessment, but knew I’d need the glasses to counteract the weakness in my eye that the stroke left behind. Since my stroke, I haven’t been able to work so I couldn’t afford them by myself. That’s where the Stroke Association came in.”

“One of their co-ordinators came round and told me all about the grants and helped me to fill in the forms. She made the whole process comfortable and really put me at ease.”

Keith’s application for a Life after Stroke Grant was accepted and the Stroke Association was able to provide him with the glasses he needs, ready for his driving assessment.

For the next two years, grants just like Keith’s will be funded by Royal Mail Group, thanks to their Charity of the Year programme.

The Stroke Association was chosen as Royal Mail Group’s Charity of the Year after receiving almost 40,000 staff votes. The company aims to raise at least £2 million for the Stroke Association over the course of the partnership.

Every penny raised will help the charity provide Life After Stroke grants of up to £300 to help 10,000 stroke survivors. These grants fund equipment to give stroke survivors more independence and support as they take their first steps back into the community.