Wellbeing Day 2024 proves a huge success

Friday 25 October started bright and (very!) early at St Monica’s for the hard-working team putting together this year’s Wellbeing Day… getting tables and chairs in place, allocating spaces for our exhibitors, making sure that all of the gadgetry controlling the audio-visual equipment was functioning… and that the food and drink needed for the day ahead were all lined up!

After the inevitable hiccups and mini-crises were resolved, it was plain sailing all day for an event which is now one of the big annual events for Bristol After Stroke. Over 130 stroke-affected people plus carers and health professionals came along to hear and watch a great range of speakers talk about ways to improve our physical and psychological health. 

But first everyone had to get warmed up… which was achieved in style with the fabulous Philomena, complete with a sound system and some banging tracks, taking to the stage to get everyone doing some impressive chair dancing.

After CEO Rebecca Sheehy set out this year’s highlights and next year’s innovations, our two panel sessions proved highly informative. First off, four stroke-affected people talked about their lived experiences, and then the health and fitness professionals gave their expert insights.

Next up came an inspiring talk by photographer Alex Rotas, who has developed an international reputation for her powerful images of older athletes – some into their 100s. She was accompanied by Dot… who has competed at the highest veteran level right into her 80s, undaunted by having had a stroke which has made it difficult to negotiate the camber on indoor running tracks!

Lunchtime provided an opportunity for socialising as well as enjoying the excellent repast, then Claire Angell got the afternoon session off to a great start with an update on the HIT Lived Experience Group.

How can we harness our creativity to support our rehabilitation? Sarah Woodward and Hazel Hammond set out how art and poetry can achieve just that, while Laura Cook and Emma Richards got everyone in full voice to show the therapeutic value of music.

Those two talks proved an inspiring as well as entertaining conclusion to the day… one which provided something for everyone.

We’ve had some wonderful feedback from those who joined us and made it possible… a big thank you to all who made it such an uplifting occasion – and we’ll see you again next year, we hope!