Press release -
Local stroke survivor congratulated by MP
Member of Parliament for Macclesfield, David Rutley, visited the Stroke Association’s Stroke Café at Wykeham Chase on Tuesday 16 September, to meet the charity’s Life After Stroke Awards winner, Pieter Egriega.
Pieter Egriega, 55, from Macclesfield, won the national accolade earlier this year in recognition of using his artistic talents to help change the lives of people recovering from stroke. Pieter himself had a major stroke in June 2013. He was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, where he received life-saving treatment to stop the bleeding around his brain, and underwent intensive physiotherapy at Macclesfield Hospital. The stroke left him paralysed down the right-hand side of his body.
While in hospital, Pieter’s partner, Sareth Stanley, 54, brought him an iPad which changed his life. Using his left hand, Pieter wrote Snapshots of a Stroke Recovery, a series of short stories about his experience of stroke, which give a powerful insight into what life is like for a stroke survivor. He has also written several songs about his recovery and now regularly performs his stories and music at events around the North West.
As well as congratulating Pieter on his award, David also took the time to meet with the Stroke Café’s members, and listen to their personal experiences of stroke and the support they receive
from the Stroke Association in Macclesfield.
David said: “Thousands of people across Cheshire are affected by stroke and it is a major cause of adult disability. Almost one third of strokes occur in people under 65 years. Pieter is clearly very passionate about raising awareness of this devastating condition and has shown tremendous courage in rebuilding his life after stroke. It was wonderful to see the innovative way he has used his creative talents to help other stroke survivors, as well as meeting the inspirational group members at the Stroke Café.”
Pieter said: “Facing life after stroke is daunting, but when your life is turned upside down, you’ve got to fight to make the best of a difficult situation. You never know, you might just surprise yourself and everyone else too. It’s good to know that by sharing my experience, I might help other stroke survivors and together we can conquer stroke.”
The Stroke Drop In Café meets at Wykeham Chase Communal Lounge, off Ivy Road, Macclesfield SK11 8QU on the third Tuesday of each month from 10:30am – 12pm. For more information, contact Diane Warhurst, Information, Advice and Support Coordinator for the Stroke Association, on 01625 612044.
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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
