October 2024 saw our community come together in harmony for a heartwarming and tuneful challenge – Sing4Stroke. Our talented singing students each filmed a video of themselves singing one of their favourite songs, with these delightful performances shared daily on our Facebook page. Not only did we manage to hit a high note by doubling our fundraising target, raising an impressive £400 for The Stroke Association, but we also created a lasting impact on both the charity and our participants.
Taking part in Sing4Stroke offered our singers a fantastic chance to refine their talents and boost their self-assurance. While recording and sharing their performances could have been intimidating, every participant embraced the challenge, bravely stepping beyond their comfort zones. They poured their heart and souls into their songs and, in doing so, I feel each one experienced significant growth as an artist.
A Father's Journey: The Heartbeat of Sing4Stroke
Our Sing4Stroke fundraiser began with an inspiring performance from a father and his daughter, and a story that encapsulates the profound impact of stroke and the resilience that follows.
Eadie's father, a healthy 32-year-old, never imagined that the day before his daughter's planned Cesarean birth, he would exhibit stroke-like symptoms such as slurred speech and loss of balance. Initially dismissed as a migraine, these symptoms turned out to be the early signs of a stroke. Despite this, Eadie was born as planned on Monday, 12th May, and life as a new family began. It wasn't until three months later, on 16th August, that he suffered a second, more severe stroke. A subsequent scan confirmed that he had indeed experienced two strokes.
The journey to recovery was long and arduous. The stroke had significantly impacted the left side of his body, necessitating extensive rehabilitation to regain its function. During this challenging period, Eadie, then just a three-month-old, became his greatest motivator. Through the simple daily tasks of dressing her, fastening tiny buttons, feeding her, and playing with her, he was able to slowly rehabilitate his left hand and body. These interactions provided both a therapeutic benefit and a cherished bonding experience, turning a time of adversity into one of gratitude and connection.
In his words, “While it was a very worrying time and a massive shock, I will always remember that time fondly and feel extremely grateful for the time I had with Eadie. If it hadn't been for the stroke, I would have been working full time and would have missed so much. Eadie was such a huge part of my recovery, and she had, and still has, no idea what she did for me.”
Their performance marked the beginning of our Sing4Stroke challenge, setting the tone with a powerful reminder of why we sing and support The Stroke Association. Stories like theirs underscore the importance of our fundraising efforts and the incredible impact they have on individuals and families affected by strokes. The courage and determination displayed by this father and daughter duo serve as an inspiration to us all, driving home the message that every contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those recovering from strokes.
Each year, around 100,000 people in the UK experience a stroke, adding to the millions of stroke survivors already living in the country. Cheshire and Merseyside alone account for more than 56,000 of these survivors. This funding will help The Stroke Association continue to offer crucial services such as rehabilitation programs, support groups, and educational resources that aid stroke recovery and improve quality of life. Additionally, it will support groundbreaking research aimed at understanding stroke causes, developing new treatments, and ultimately finding a cure. By participating in and supporting initiatives like Sing4Stroke, our community helped in enhancing the lives of stroke survivors and advancing medical research.
The £400 we raised will contribute to specialist support and vital life-saving research.
A spokesperson for The Stroke Association expressed their gratitude, saying:
“We really appreciate Encore Music and Wellness and their dedicated students for their involvement with the sing4stroke challenge fundraiser. The funds raised will to go towards specialist support, critical lifesaving research and further our campaign for the very best possible care for everyone affected by stroke. You are all making a real difference and we loved all of your videos.”
Everyone at Encore would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the Singing students who participated in Sing4Stroke with such enthusiasm and dedication. Your incredible performances not only brought joy to many but also made a significant difference in raising awareness and funds for The Stroke Association. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to everyone who donated to the fundraiser. Your generosity and support have been truly inspiring, and together, we have contributed to a cause that will positively impact countless lives. We look forward to your continued support in our future fundraising efforts.
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