Back in early 2023 my (Laura) dad suffered a massive, devastating stroke, and the first question I asked when I knew of the stroke was "can he speak". I knew aphasia was a very typical consequence of a stroke and the thought of my funny, clever, articulate dad not being able to communicate with words terrified me. Unfortunately his stroke was so severe that there was no recovery, and a few days later we lost my dad.

One in three stroke survivors will experience aphasia – making it difficult for them to speak or communicate. Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children can be left unable to see, speak, or even swallow. Being unable to express yourself can be incredibly frustrating. It can make you feel isolated and lonely.

Amazingly, singing ability is often preserved in people with aphasia, and The Stroke Association are asking people to raise money and awareness through singing. 'Sing4Stroke' will take place on World Stroke Day, 29th October and people are taking part in all sorts of ways. We are not asking for sponsors, because we sing all the time anyway! But we'll be posting a recording we've done for the event, and are asking anyone who wishes to donate something to the cause.

The Stroke Association says on their website, "When a stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. Life changes instantly and recovery is tough. But the brain can adapt. Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community. With more donations and support from you, we can rebuild even more lives."

Help us to help them, in memory of the Beat Box's number one fan, and my number one man, Ross Allan, dad.