Louise Hulbert, who had a stroke 10 years ago and now volunteers as a patient partner at our Trust, has raised £900 for our charity by completing a 5k walk in San Sebastian, Spain.

Louise raised these funds to help provide music-based activities for patients on our stroke wards, where she regularly volunteers. Louise plays a vital role in leading activities for patients, and in the development of the new Stroke Team Recovery Improvement Through Volunteer Engagement (STRIVE) program.

She said: “I’ve been through what the patients here are experiencing, having gone through a stroke myself. I realise the life-changing impact it can have, so a little bit of light relief can truly make a significant difference.”

When our hospitals’ charity heard about Louise's fundraising for music resources, they jumped at the chance to support her, and even expand her idea. As well as providing our stroke wards with a patient activity trolley stocked with musical instruments, interactive games and arts and crafts, they also gave both wards RITA devices (Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activity), a state-of-the-art digital therapy system allowing patients to use apps, games and other leisure activities.

The devices and activity trollies were given to the wards this week during visits by Louise and Karen Peters, service improvement lead for stroke.

These new resources will be used on the wards and during STRIVE group sessions led by Louise where our patients, volunteers and therapy teams come together to engage in various activities. They help enhance physical, cognitive and social interaction for stroke patients, positively impacting their recovery.