This year, we’re raising money for Different Strokes, a charity that supports younger stroke survivors and helps people rebuild their lives after stroke.

This cause is particularly meaningful to us. A couple of years ago, our colleague Richard Barker’s wife, Lisa, suffered a severe, life-changing stroke, caused by a previously undetected condition — APS (sticky blood syndrome).

Since then, Lisa has shown incredible determination in rebuilding her life and establishing a new normal. While she continues to experience ongoing challenges, she has also been committed to giving something back — supporting other stroke survivors through working groups, medical studies, and by leading a Different Strokes support group in central Norfolk.

Every year, around 100,000 people have a stroke, and around a quarter are under the age of 65 — that’s 25,000 younger people whose lives are changed in an instant.

Stroke is also the single biggest cause of disability in the UK, and it’s not always the visible challenges that survivors face. Fatigue, cognitive difficulties and personality changes can have a lasting impact, often affecting people’s ability to return to work or care for their families.

Any donation, big or small, will make a real difference. Thank you so much for your support 💜