Sports stars, politicians and entertainers are this week supporting Stroke Foundation in a public health education campaign which hopes to drastically lift the level of Australian men’s awareness of stroke.
Two South Australians showing their support for the cause are fast-footed Socceroo Craig Goodwin, and Adelaide businessman and young survivor of stroke, Josh Hubbard.
It was Anzac Day 2014 when Craig’s partner Katelyn Timmings heard the devastating news that her mother had a stroke. The impact has been immense for the whole family and recently prompted Katelyn to ask how she and Craig could make a difference for others impacted by this killer disease.
As one of Australian most recognised footballers, Craig offered to use it to share Stroke Foundation’s grassroots men’s health campaign – Bloke Beside You. He roped-in his Dad, Tony to make a light-hearted video which emphasises that almost 50 per cent of Australian men do not recognise what stroke looks like, and do not know the F.A.S.T. message.
F.A.S.T. highlights three common stroke indicators: Facial droop, Arms not working, and Slurred speech. The T is a reminder that treatment for stroke is time critical. Men’s recognition levels of these stroke signs lag 15 per cent behind women, which Stroke Foundation considers a significant issue.
Adelaide’s Josh Hubbard experienced a stroke in August 2018. He was riding his bike up Montacute Road when he began to feel the shakes. Assuming it was a flat tyre, Josh made it up the top of the hill where his symptoms became even worse.
“I couldn’t get off my bike and felt really dizzy. I called my Dad and he took me straight to hospital. I was only 29 and very fit and active at the time. It took doctors a day or two to discover I’d had a stroke,” Josh said.
“I had lost full use of the left side of my body. Within hours I was walking again but, my arm required rehabilitation. I’m a very driven person and I was quite fanatical about my rehab and was training 12 to 14 hours a day – it paid off! I’m one of the lucky ones, I have no day-to-day effects. I regularly talk about what happened to me to make more people aware that young typically healthy people have strokes.”
Living a full and active life is even more important now, as Josh and wife Nazneen are expecting a baby in July.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy says having Craig and Josh share their own stories to help raise awareness is hugely appreciated.
“If we can help even a small portion of that audience learn the F.A.S.T. message, it will make a difference to many lives. We need everyone to know that you cannot be slow to act when a stroke strikes. Stroke is always a medical emergency, think F.A.S.T, act fast,” she says.
The Bloke Beside You campaign has been launched during International Men’s Health Week, which has the theme Healthy Habits. Videos of all participants will be posted on Stroke Foundation social media channels this week.
