Community allotment goes purple for Stroke

Stroke wear purple

MONDAY, 11 MAY, 2015

EMBARGOED UNTIL PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 3PM, WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY. COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT VOLUNTEERS AND NHS TAYSIDE EMPLOYEES GO PURPLE TO SUPPORT ACTION ON STROKE MONTH, COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT, BRECHIN ROAD, ARBROATH 

Community allotment goes purple for stroke

Volunteers at the community allotment in Arbroath donned purple clothes and planted an area of the allotment with purple flowers to support the Stroke Association’s ‘Make May Purple’ awareness campaign.

The volunteers were joined by staff from NHS Tayside and members of the Steps Tay Health walking group to turn the gardens purple.

Freda Stewart of NHS Tayside’s Health Improvement Team said, “A stroke strikes every three and half minutes in the UK, so we wanted to show our support for the Stroke Association’s campaign.

“Gardening is a great way to relax and get a bit of gentle exercise. It’s lovely to see so many of our volunteers here today helping to raise awareness about stroke. We have raised flower beds to enable those recovering from a stroke to join us.

“Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and babies. The Stroke Association designed the FAST test to help people to recognise the symptoms of stroke and hopefully get people to hospital sooner, saving more lives.”

The FAST acronym aims and stands for Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, Time to call 999.

Around four in five people will have one or more FAST symptoms when having a stroke. Other symptoms include sudden loss of vision or blurred vision, sudden weakness on one side and sudden memory loss.

Contact:

Lyndsey Daun

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138

18 May 2015