OGL staff choose Stroke Association for their charity of the month

At the end of last year, we asked staff to choose charities that they would like to raise money for and nominate as the "charity of the month" throughout 2019. Every month, we'll be raising money for a different nominated charity through a dress down day, dedicated to that charity of the month.

Staff nominated charities that were personal and close to their hearts; due to the high volume of nominations, the final 12 charities were chosen from a random draw.

January's charity of the month was the Stroke Association, which was nominated by HR Manager, Lisa, and Software Customer Coordinator, Dani.

Explaining her reason for nominating the Stroke Association, Lisa said: “In September 2013 my mum suffered two strokes within a couple of weeks of each other. Whilst she recovered fully from the first, the second took away the use of her left side and she now uses a wheelchair. She was only 62 when it happened, which, to me, seemed like such a young age. She spent several months in the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre in Hereford. Whilst she was there, she had some fantastic support - both physically and emotionally - from the Stroke Association, who helped her and my step dad adjust and cope after the stroke. Their support workers and volunteers gave my mum the confidence to not let the stroke hold her back and we are very grateful for their help in getting her ‘back on her feet’”.

Dani also shared a personal experience with the charity. “It is an organisation very close to my heart and raises such vital awareness. On 30 December 2016, at the age of 49, my uncle suffered what is known as a Cerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke, which sadly is the worst possible kind. Despite all of the efforts of the Doctors, Nurses and Surgeons at the Atkinson Morley Hospital in London, the damage caused was so extensive it resulted in irreversible brain damage and he lost his battle on 3 January 2017.

“In March 2017 I participated in a 10km resolution run and raised over £1,200 for the charity, I was in the top 3% that year for donations. My family has been raising awareness and money ever since by organising quiz nights and taking part in cycling events across the country, so I am very pleased that my friends and colleagues here at OGL will also be putting towards this great cause.”

We are proud to announce that we raised £308.00 for Stroke Association.