The Speech and Language Therapy Society at the University of Essex is holding a 'Week of Awareness' 13th-18th March 2017. During this week we are engaging in a number of sponsored activities (see activities listed below!) raising money for the Colne Stroke Group; a local support group for individuals and their families whose lives have been affected by stroke. They aim to improve the quality of life for people who have speech, language and communication difficulties as a result of stroke.

Our 'Week of Awareness' activities will also help to increase awareness of speech, language, communication and swallowing needs in children and adults.

Activities:

- On Wednesday 15th March Alicia Skelton, Hannah Atkinson, Daniel Jack, Jenny Sawyer and Caryn Gan will be drinking thickened drinks all day. Thickened drinks are often recommended for people who can no longer swallow normal fluids safely.

- Our Lauren C (see photo of rather smiley running elf above!) is running Colchester Half Marathon on the 12th March 2017!

- Caitlin is doing a sponsored 'Week of Silence!'. Caitlin says "I am planning to fundraise by using Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) for one week! So this means no talking! I am will be using my phone (so text to speech app), pen and paper, gesture and signs. It will be 24/7 (apart from sleep talking!). For more information see her blog: https://aacweekofsilence.wordpress.com/

- 6 society members (Kimberly Ann, Natasha Spong, Lauren Craig, Esther Wood, Naomi Dennis-Betts, Toni Fairminer) will be eating a pureed diet on Monday 6th March as part of our Week of Awareness (just a little early!) as it's also European Swallowing Awareness Day! This will raise awareness of how swallowing difficulties in children and adults can affect peoples lives as well as give us a better understanding of what it's like to plan and eat a modified diet.

See more about the group here: http://www.colnestrokegroup.org.uk/#xl_xr_page_index