As part of our ongoing mission to raise awareness of stroke in people of working age and younger we recently supported the BBC in putting together an important film about younger stroke for their programme BBC Morning Live.

We are incredibly grateful to Lili and Kate, survivors from the Different Strokes community, who appeared on BBC Morning Live on Thursday 14^th September. Their stories shed light on a distressingly common experience: delays in treatment and care due to dismissive attitudes based on age and symptoms.

Lili and Kate’s candid accounts highlighted the heart-wrenching challenges they faced as young stroke survivors. Their willingness to speak openly about these struggles underscores the pressing need for change in how strokes are perceived and addressed.

During the segment, Lili, Kate, and Dr. Ranj came together to emphasise that strokes can affect anyone, regardless of age, and that prompt and appropriate care is essential. They discussed how being dismissed because of age, lifestyle, or atypical symptoms can have devastating consequences, stressing the importance of a more inclusive and understanding approach to stroke diagnosis and treatment.

Different Strokes extends its profound gratitude to Lili and Kate for their courage in sharing their personal journeys. Their voices and voices like theirs we hope will become a powerful catalyst for change in the way society views and responds to strokes in younger individuals. We are also grateful to Dr Ranj, Emily, Richard, and everyone involved in the making of the film.

Lauren Hartney, Marketing Manager at Different Strokes, reaffirms Different Stroke’s commitment to raising awareness: “We will continue to advocate tirelessly for younger stroke survivors, working to ensure that no one is denied the care and support they deserve. It is heartening to see these critical issues gaining the attention they warrant, and we will persist in our efforts to make lasting change.

By raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by younger stroke survivors, we can work towards a future where dismissive attitudes no longer stand in the way of timely and potentially lifesaving treatment.”