Second Annual Photo Awareness Contest to celebrate Stroke Recovery Awareness Month

Stroke Recovery Canada®, a program of March of Dimes Canada holds a Photo Awareness Contest to celebrate Stroke Recovery Awareness Month

Every ten minutes a Canadian will have a stroke.  There are over 300,000 stroke survivors in Canada.

Stroke Recovery Canada®, a program of March of Dimes Canada, helps stroke survivors across the country to more easily re-engage in their communities, and affirm that there is meaningful and quality life after a stroke.  With May designated as Stroke Recovery Awareness Month, Stroke Recovery Canada® has increased its efforts to educate the public about stroke recovery. 

As part of the awareness month campaign, the program created a photo contest called ‘I’m a Survivor’ inviting stroke survivors and their family members to submit original photos, showing how stroke survivors are living life to the fullest.

The winning photo is titled “"Oh What a Feeling!"”, and was submitted by Brenda Westcott on behalf of her husband Andy, a stroke survivor from Oakville, ON.  Andy and Brenda will receive a $50 gift certificate, a signed Bret Hart (spokesperson of Stroke Recovery Canada®) head shot and will be published in an upcoming edition of The Phoenix.

The photo shows Andy atop his beloved snowmobile.

“Andy had his stroke on April 8, 2009 and after spending 4 months in hospital returned home to continue the long road of rehabilitation and recovery.  He strives daily to be the best he can be and has been working physically and mentally to change and adjust to his "new normal",” says Brenda.

“Snowmobiling is one of Andy's great loves and so from the time the weather turned cold this fall he talked about getting out on his machine and going for a ride.  Andy still has a great deal of left side neglect so although he was unable to drive and ride alone, with the help of our sons James and Matthew, (his snowmobile buddies), he was able to arrive in style at a Chili Cookoff held at the cottage of our friends on Big Bald Lake the 3rd week in February 2010.  Let's just say, a good time was had by all, “she continues.

“Andy is just one of the thousands of Canadians who have survived a stroke and can share their personal experiences with stroke recovery,” says Donna Mackay, Associate Director of National and Provincial Programs for March of Dimes Canada.

“We celebrate Stroke Recovery Awareness Month in May to remind Canadian stroke survivors and healthcare professionals that many resources including community engagement and peer support are paramount for a successful and ongoing stroke recovery,” she continues.

Stroke Recovery Canada® a program of March of Dimes Canada, is a national service offering post-recovery support, education and programs for stroke survivors, their families and health care providers. Through its work with local peer support groups, Stroke Recovery Canada® provides Canadians with the resources needed to survive and thrive after stroke.

For information or to join Stroke Recovery Canada call the Warmline® at 1-888-540-6666 or visit the Stroke Recovery Canada website at www.marchofdimes.ca/src.