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Exterior valet with Ceramic sealant on this smart Skoda Octavia VRS

#valeting #detailing #mobilevaleting #wigan #skodaoctavia

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🧠☕ THYME FOR TEA ☕🧠

If you’re a younger or working-age stroke survivor in the North West, this is definitely worth checking out. ❤️

📅 Tuesday 20th October
⏰ 5pm–7pm
📍 96 Church Street, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3RZ

The evening is all about bringing younger and working-age stroke survivors together for a chance to meet people who understand what life after stroke can actually be like.

Zoe and Andy, who are both young stroke survivors themselves, will be sharing their own experiences and recovery journeys.

There’ll be time to have a brew, chat, ask questions or just listen. There’s no pressure to speak or get involved if you don’t feel comfortable. ❤️

The hope is that this can become a regular North West stroke support group, giving people the chance to connect with others who really do understand.

They’re also open to people who might like to get involved as volunteers in the future. There’ll be an opportunity to chat to them about this on the night.

🎟️ There are a limited number of seats available, so if you’d like to go, make sure you book your place.

👉 Book your free place through Eventbrite:
Book your place here⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-west-stroke-support-group-tickets-2002663884589?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you know someone who might benefit from this, tag them or share this post with them. ❤️

Sometimes just meeting someone who gets it can make such a difference.

There is life after stroke. 🫶

#strokesurvivor #youngstrokesurvivor #StrokeSupport #differentstrokes #

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Saturday was the first time I did one of these gatherings intentionally.

Amsterdam and NYC were spontaneous. I said I was around. People DMed me. We met.

Glasgow was different: a timeline, a form, a selection, a particular combination of people I chose to bring together.

People travelled from Manchester, London, Newcastle, Lancaster. They didn't know each other or who I'd bring together. And they came anyway. I really appreciate this.

Andrew told us he didn't ask: Why should I sign up? He asked: Why not? I recognised something in that. They didn't know what would happen. Neither did I. For months I'd been creating online, adjusting, watching who gathered around what I made and what conversations formed.

Then the Glasgow form gave me info about specific people. I wasn't only thinking about each person on their own. I was thinking about the combination. What might happen between A + B + C + D?

On paper they were very different: research, psychiatry, data, strategy and systems. Different countries, different lived experiences. One had survived a stroke.

Once everyone started talking, some threads became clearer. They cared deeply about what they did, about people, making things better and were curious about worlds outside their own. There was prob this too: a willingness to enter before everything was known. They showed up.

The sauna owner asked who we all were. Sonja said ‘This is the first time we've met. We all followed her on IG. She created content that resonated with people from different backgrounds and age ranges. She put out a gathering. We applied. And these are the people she pulled together.’ I didn't say a word. She'd watched this develop through a screen. Now she was inside it, explaining it to someone else. That stayed w me.

I still don't know exactly what this will become concretely. But I have info I didn't have before Saturday. Now Glasgow changes what I do next. You don't need to know what happens after the move. You need enough to make it. Then reality gives you the next piece.

And to everyone who came: Thank You! ❤️ You gave something a chance before any of us knew what it would become.
#breaktheboxonline

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Disability Pride Month is about celebrating our community, raising awareness, and recognizing that every achievement matters.

Thank you to everyone from around the world who shared something they're proud of—whether it's a personal milestone, a hobby, a sport, or a daily task. This is just a small glimpse of the talent, strength, resilience, and diversity within the disability community.

Happy Disability Pride Month. 💚♿🌍

*I could only tag 20 people 😭 I will tag the rest in the comments!!

#disabilityawareness #disabilitypride #community #disabilitycommunity

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Would you cope if it happened to you? 🤯 @mythrowingarmstopped found out the hard way.

3 years ago, he lost the use of his arm and has spent years working to get it back. It’s a powerful reminder that health and mobility are an absolute privilege, and you should cherish them. The road to recovery can be long and terrifying, and while consistency and discipline are vital, you also need to be kind to yourself along the way 🫂

Stone skimmers, stroke survivors, stone skippers and anyone recovering from injury, let's all do this together 💙

@differentstrokesuk is an amazing charity there to help people adapt and enhance their lives after strokes, so check them out as well 🤝

#rockskipping #oddlysatisfying #strokesurvivor #outdoors

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Full plus a Ceramic based polish on this awesome looking Skoda Octavia VRS 🇩🇪

#valeting #detailing #professionalvaleting #carvaleting #wiganvaleting

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We’re so proud of our London Landmarks Half Marathon team.

On 12 April, 21 runners and 2 companion runners took on the challenge, raising an incredible £22,208 (including Gift Aid) for Different Strokes.

From months of training to crossing the finish line, it was a day full of energy, emotion and community. Many of our runners shared how much the experience meant to them, with some still feeling the buzz days later.

Thank you to everyone who ran, supported and donated. Your efforts help us continue supporting younger stroke survivors and their families. 💙💚

If you’d like to take part in 2027, you can register your interest by emailing jo.caesar@differentstrokes.co.uk

#LLHM #LondonLandmarks

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Thank you @mythrowingarmstopped for your advice and motivation. First 30 mins non stop on the treadmill for such a long time, no pain or discomfort. “We move on”

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Let’s show our support for Andy! 💚

Less than three years on from his life-changing stroke, Be Well member Andy Reynolds will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday 12 April. 🎽

You may remember a while back we shared the remarkable story of how he got back on his feet by playing walking football with us at Standish Leisure Centre.

Now we’re super proud to see him going the extra mile (well, 13.1 miles to be exact!) to raise vital funds for @differentstrokesuk - a national organisation that supports younger stroke survivors. 🫶

Andy, 47, started running again last September – inspired by para-athlete, Guinness World Record holder and Different Strokes ambassador Anthony Bryan @thenolimitsathlete, who he met at a charity conference in Sheffield.

“At the time I couldn’t actually run, I didn’t know how to make my body do it and I was worried about falling over and doing some damage,” said Andy. 😟

“But he encouraged me to start, and since then I’ve slowly but surely built my stamina and recently I’ve been doing the Couch to 5k from Wigan Life Centre on Sunday mornings. 🏃‍♂️

“I wanted to do something for the charity because, like me, they’re trying to shine a light on the fact that a lot of younger people have strokes, and it’s not just an old person thing.

“It also represents a milestone for me because the furthest I ever ran is a half marathon, so this would be getting me back to something like I was capable of pre-stroke. 🙌

“I’m not going to be able to run the whole thing... it’ll be intervals of running and walking, but I will complete the course.

“From a mental health point of view it’s been a real rollercoaster, because I probably aged about 20-25 years overnight and it’s taken its toll at times – but doing this really helps because it gives me something to focus on and it makes me feel I’ve still got something to contribute.”

Best of luck, Andy… your progress is amazing and we’re so proud of how far you’ve come! 👏

If you’d like to show your support, please consider making a donation (link in bio ☝️ )

You can also follow Andy on his journey @mythrowingarmstopped

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This is Andy, he suffered a stroke nearly 3 years ago and lost all of his throwing capablities. He was only 44. From that day on, he has been regaining his mobility. He reached out to us not too long ago mentioning how, in his prime, he was a skimming machine with a blistering throw. Since losing coordination, he has made an incredible amount of progress in terms of strength, sensation and coordination. He is a living testament to the persevering human spirit. He now spends his days encouraging those who have suffered from a stroke with online content, fundraising and awareness spreading. We were honoured when Andy reached out to skim with us, and what a pleasure it was to share the calm lakes of Liverpool with you. Stay legendary Andy and never stop skimming - LSSS

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After his stroke, Andrew felt lost and unsure where to turn. What he wishes he’d known sooner was how to find and connect with other stroke survivors.
Speaking to someone further along in recovery gave him hope — proof that life could feel “normal” again.
Today, he encourages others to reach out: “Knowing there are people you can talk to when you’ve got worries or anxieties — that really helps.”

@mythrowingarmstopped

#WorldStrokeDay #StrokeAwareness #StrokeSupport #DifferentStrokesCommunity

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After his stroke, Andrew felt lost and unsure where to turn. What he wishes he’d known sooner was how to find and connect with other stroke survivors.
Speaking to someone further along in recovery gave him hope — proof that life could feel “normal” again.
Today, he encourages others to reach out: “Knowing there are people you can talk to when you’ve got worries or anxieties — that really helps.”

@mythrowingarmstopped

#WorldStrokeDay #StrokeAwareness #StrokeSupport #DifferentStrokes #StrokeCommunity

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