In 2016 I suffered 3 strokes followed by a forth stroke at some point between the scans in Dec.2016 and August 2017.

These strokes had a major impact on my life and more can be read in my story here that I shared via different strokes charity https://differentstrokes.co.uk/stories/jo-c-cross/

Since then I use my rehab to try and raise awareness and funds for people that helped me from rehab hospital to charities that supported me.

Music & festivals was something I missed greatly so we decided to do a mini festival fundraiser and it went well. So the event is back this year but need to fundraise to cover the costs so we can make as much money as possible for these causes.

I was going to do a skydive but was told I couldn't on medical grounds due to my strokes so put a plea out online & we have two lovely people connected to CHANCES in some way who are taking on the jump in a CHANCES team skydive. We have Dean, the Managing Director of the security Company , Newmans Event Services who provide our security out of the kindness of their hearts, so in return we are getting him to jump out of a plane for us (seems fair, right?!), and a huge supporter and friend, his son Chris is joining Dean to leap out of a plane too!

Fundraising is tough but so is suffering strokes at a younger age because the lack of support is crazy. The system and stereotypes assume strokes only happen to older people who are in high risk groups and it simply isnt the case. Young, healthy people with no risk factors have strokes too.

The aftercare for a younger stroke survivor is shocking, forms are geared up for older people and access to rehab and funding to get your life back is scarce and somewhat of a postcode lottery and it shouldn't be the case at all.

So if you can support this lovely duo in the CHANCES team skydive I would be immensely grateful because the more support, means more funding which means more awareness and only that awareness will drive change and improve things for younger stroke survivors in their recovery. I never imagined it could happen to me and I don't want anyone else to go through what I did.

For more information on CHANCES and tickets, please check out www.chancesfestival.co.uk