Charity Launches New Stroke Website

The Stroke Association is this week proud to present their innovative new-look website packed with brand new features, services and interactive experiences. This is the definitive website for anyone affected by stroke.

New features now include:

· 'TalkStroke', an interactive discussion forum, which aims to inspire people to share experiences, information and to help them support each other whilst coming to terms with stroke. TalkStroke is an invaluable opportunity for people to establish contact with each other.

· 'Living with Stroke - An Audio Experience', provides an insight into the human side of stroke. Through special audio clips visitors to the website can hear stroke survivors talking first hand about their experience of coping with stroke, recovering and moving on from the condition.

· 'All About Stroke', originally developed for the NHS Direct website and donated to The Stroke Association, this section provides a wealth of information on stroke and covers every question on the condition someone may have.

· There is also a section dedicated to all professionals who work in the field of stroke, providing information on research projects, community services, and education and training.

Feedback on the new website is already flooding in. One user comments:

"I just want to tell you that information on your website has really helped me. I searched the internet, but I could not find any better websites regarding stroke. Finally I found the answers on your website and I am really grateful for that."

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association said:

"As part of our continued effort to reach out to everyone, the new website has been developed to provide improved accessibility for users with or without disabilities. Our website is easy to navigate and is packed full of information for anyone affected by or interested in stroke.

Every year 130,000 people have a stroke. www.stroke.org.uk is about people affected by stroke, for people affected by stroke. The Stroke Association hopes features like Talk Stroke and Living with Stroke will finally offer them a chance to make their voice heard."

At desktops worldwide now.... don't miss it!

---ENDS---

For media enquiries, please contact a member of the Media Team on 020 7566 1500 or e-mail press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Images are available on request.

2. The new website was developed in conjunction with Torchbox. Torchbox is a web development company committed to working with socially and environmentally progressive organisations from the charity and public sector, particularly those dealing with health and medical welfare issues. www.torchbox.com

3. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

4. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

5. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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