We are the Charity Football Weekly podcast, a podcast dedicated to charity football news and celebrating those who give up their time and resources to raise money for charity by playing the beautiful game.

The Charity Football Weekly podcast is hosted by Mike Sullivan and Phil Russell. However, on this occasion we are asking for your help.

In 2021 aged 47, Phil's wife Victoria had a stroke. She previously had no underlying medical conditions and this event came as a shock to Victoria and her family. It has left her with left sided weakness, mobility problems, difficulty thinking and speaking, sight loss to her left eye, memory problems and her life is now very different. In addition to this she has suffered another smaller stroke in December 2022.

The NHS due to years of neglect, underfunding and a global pandemic is overstretched. Ongoing care, in our experience, does not exist. But that is where the Stroke Association stepped in. Online support groups, expert help and advice at the end of the phone and a peer telephone call have been invaluable. As well as providing networking to other more local stroke and aphasia groups. We do not know what we would have done without them.

When 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.