First class: The first Life after Stroke Grant funded by Royal Mail

Royal Mail Group has delivered the first Life after Stroke Grant funded by its Charity of the Year partnership with the Stroke Association.

Jabeen Mitha, a 56 year old stroke survivor, is the first beneficiary of 10,000 Life after Stroke Grants that the postal service aims to fund over the next two years.

Jabeen, from Newport in South Wales, woke up early one morning last year while having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke.

She said “I remember thinking I might just have cramp, but the more time that passed, the more the numbness in my face worried me. Even though I was eventually able to move again, I’d seen the FAST adverts on the television and recognised some of the symptoms, so I decided to go and see my GP.”

Jabeen’s doctor sent her straight to a stroke specialist unit where her mini-stroke was diagnosed. She was allowed home soon after, but still experiences difficulty with her mobility, making it difficult for her to move around at home.

After visiting a Stroke Association community stall, she found out about services in her area that could help and after meeting her local co-ordinator, was told about Life after Stroke Grants.

As a result, the Stroke Association was able to provide Jabeen with a Rise and Recline Chair to help her move between sitting and standing on her own, giving her more independence.

Jabeen said “Getting a chair seems such a small thing but it has changed my life. I’m now so much more comfortable and I’m even able to have dinner at the table with my family, which is fantastic. I’d like to thank all of the fundraisers at Royal Mail for their support of the Stroke Association and people just like me.”

Jim Swindells, Director of Fundraising at the Stroke Association, said “It’s absolutely fantastic to see how the fundraising efforts of Royal Mail staff are making a difference to the lives of stroke survivors. Over the next two years, we will continue to work together to help transform the lives of people living with this devastating condition.”

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

The company aims to raise at least £2 million for the Stroke Association over the course of the partnership, with every penny helping the charity to provide Life after Stroke Grants. These grants fund equipment to give stroke survivors more independence and support as they take their first steps back into the community.

Lily Heinemann, Royal Mail Group’s Head of Corporate Responsibility and Community Investment, said “We are thrilled to have delivered the first Royal Mail funded Grant to Jabeen. Over the next two years, we aim to ensure over 10,000 stroke survivors have access to these grants, supporting them in their life after stroke.”

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.