Stroke charity turns Jersey buildings purple

Sunday 23 April 2017

Fort Regent and Victoria College will go purple in May to help raise awareness about strokes as part of the Stroke Association's Make May Purple campaign, that raised more than £60,000 in the UK in 2016.

The charity is calling on Islanders to sign up and go purple by dressing in purple from head-to-toe, sporting purple wigs and accessories and organising fundraising events at home, at school or at work.

Tracy O'Regan, fundraising and operations manager for the charity in Jersey, explains: "The aim is to raise awareness about strokes and also about what the association does. Strokes can happen to anyone at any age, it is a myth to think they only happen to people after 65. Through Make May Purple, we are hoping to promote the conversation and entice people to find out more. We want them to see purple everywhere and wonder 'why purple?', that is when the conversation happens."

Islanders can get involved in any way they wish or can think of. Purple wigs, clothes or accessories are all good conversation starters but the aim of the campaign is also to raise funds. The Stroke Association Jersey relies on donations to support stroke survivors and their entourage. Every penny raised in Jersey, from cake sales to fundraising at home during a dinner party, as well as quizzes, races or activities at school, exclusively supports services to Islanders. 

To make it easier for people to get involved fundraising packs and promotion materials like stickers, balloons and pens are available for free online.

Mrs O'Regan explains: "Fundraising goes hand in hand with raising awareness. We want people to turn around simple events to make them think about strokes. If you are having friends over for dinner, you could make it a fundraising opportunity. Although the message we are trying to get across is a serious one, we want people to have fun with the campaign. We are really hoping to have someone dye their hair purple!" 

Businesses around the Island can also take part and display bunting, balloons and posters while some Jersey buildings, including Fort Regent and Victoria College, will shine purple. Some hair salons have offered to paint nails purple in a bid to prompt more donations. 

Mrs O'Regan says: "Every little help counts in helping to raise the profile of strokes. The more people know about strokes, the more they will be able to look out for signs and potentially save lives."

Volunteers from the Stroke Association will be in Brook Street on 6 May with collection buckets. They will also offer free blood pressure tests to passers-by as high blood pressure can lead to the formation of clots or blockage that cause 85% of strokes by cutting off blood supply to the brain. Volunteers will also offer advice on which signs to look out for, using the Face Arm Speech (FAST) test. 

Last year, the Stroke Association, which offers support to stroke survivors and their families and carers, received 149 new referrals, their biggest number on record. An estimated 125 people have a stroke each year in Jersey.