Royal Visitor to Regional Stroke Association Office

The Stroke Association's President, HRH The Duke of Kent, will be visiting the leading stroke charity's South West Regional Office in Exeter tomorrow.

His Royal Highness will meet the regional staff and talk with them about the support and information services they provide to those living in the region. The Duke will also meet the Association's Chairman of Council, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Skelmersdale, and the charity's Chief Executive Margaret Goose.

The South West Region covers Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with a combined population of nearly two million people. In 2001/2002 over 3,650 stroke people and their carers benefited from the services provided by the Regional Office which include; an Education, Training and Information Service, and Dysphasia and Family Support Services.

Anne Smith, Regional Manager, South West Community Services says: "We are delighted that His Royal Highness has taken time out of his schedule to visit our region. The South West office covers a vast area and we are looking forward to talking to him about stroke care in our community".

HRH The Duke of Kent will also meet some of the South West region's 74 volunteers as well as members of the local stroke clubs.

Ends

Notes to editor

· Photographers are welcome to attend. Please contact the Regional Office for more details.
· Local case studies are available for interview. Please contact the Regional Office.
· A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted.
· Stroke is one of the biggest killers and the largest single cause of serious adult disability in the UK. Around 100,000 people in England and Wales suffer a stroke each year - about 10,000 are under the age of 55 and 1,000 are under the age of 30. One person every five minutes will suffer a first stroke.
· The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke.

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