In the UK, strokes strike every 5 minutes and 100,000 people are affected each year. With the closure of the Jersey arm of The Stroke Association, some of its former staff and team have formed Jersey Stroke Support to continue the work of aiding those who have been affected and their families. We meet them below and learn about their roles and motivations.
Tracy O’Regan
Originally from West London, Tracy has lived in Jersey for 20 years. She has worked in the charitable sector for over 10 years, in particular supporting people who have had a stroke and their families. Her biggest achievements include taking part in challenges raising money for charity. She has run the Jersey marathon and cycled London to Paris with a team including her son and London to Amsterdam with a team including her daughter. She enjoys spending time with her family, going on holidays and long walks with her dog.
What made you want to support the cause?
My brother suffered a stroke when he was 22 years old, I was 20 and I don’t remember anyone explaining to me what a stroke was and how the brain had been affected. My brother came home from hospital after a few months and I thought he was ‘fixed’. That wasn’t the case, he had lost the use of his left arm and struggled walking with his left leg – they were only the things you could see. His balance was badly affected as well as other ‘hidden’ effects from the stroke. Sadly, my brother passed away age 42 due to a genetic condition that had caused the stroke and so it’s been my mission since then to raise awareness about stroke.
What do you do within the organisation?
I am one of the directors of the charity and have taken an ‘operational’ role to try to get the charity into the public eye – I currently offer support to stroke survivors and family members and liaise with the hospital. I am also supporting donors, sponsors and people who are raising awareness and money for the charity with fundraising endeavours. I also attend meetings within the third sector including the Health & Care Partnership Group, Jersey Charity Forum, Carers Partnership Group and more.
How can people help, from your perspective?
We are a local charity with all monies raised on Island being spent on Island – we want to support our local community. One of our aspirations is to work with local companies to offer talks about well-being, stroke, stroke prevention and blood pressure checks. It would also be amazing, as a small charity, to be recognised across the Island and even nominated for company’s ‘Charity of the Year’ to help raise our profile. We are also organising a black-tie gala ball on Saturday 7th October at L’Horizon, themed ‘Through the Looking Glass’, the theme relates to stroke – you’ll have to purchase tickets to find out more. Please contact us at enquiries@jerseystroke.org.je
Gary Bellot
A finance industry professional, Gary has over four decades of experience that saw him build a successful trust, investment, and fund businesses based in Jersey, Switzerland, and Cyprus. Gary was born and raised in Jersey and feels a strong connection to his community. With five children and five grandchildren, Gary cherishes spending time with his family. Ouotside of family life, he enjoys sports including boxing and football. As a devoted Tottenham Hotspur fan, he holds a season ticket and travels regularly to support the team.
What made you want to support the cause?
In late 2014, I suffered a stroke that had a significant impact on me, and my family’s lives, inspiring me to give back to others through charity work. After the stroke, I decided to give back through charity work. As they say, the proof is in the eating, and I’m committed to making a difference for those affected by stroke. Tracy, Nicole, Nolan, and I worked together previously on another charity involved with stroke.
What do you do within the organisation?
We are a collaborative board of directors with different skill sets, working towards our objective to offer assistance and support to stroke survivors and their families, ensuring their safety and to raise awareness about stroke prevention across the Island.
How can people help, from your perspective?
There are various ways in which you can assist our charity. For example, by volunteering at some of our fundraising events, offering to provide administrative help to the charity, donating funds, raising awareness about what we do for example, through sharing information on social media and following our social media websites and posts. You can also raise awareness through our campaigns or even undertaking your own events in support of the charity. Every little helps, we are grateful for your support in whatever way you can provide this.
Kevin Allen
Kevin has spent all my working career spanning nearly 40 years, in banking across different businesses and various roles including board positions. Much of my early career was in the UK although for the past 20 years, home has been Jersey.
What made you want to support the cause?
From a personal perspective, I’ve always enjoyed sport and considered myself to be relatively active, fit and healthy (even if I’m carrying a little too much weight nowadays!). I was therefore surprised when Tracy, who I’ve known for many years, came to talk to our business a little while ago, about stroke preventative measures and undertake some blood pressure testing and mine was really high (high blood pressure is one of the major potential causes of stroke). Tracy urged me to head straight to my GP as well as adopt some of the preventative measures she talked about to get my blood pressure down. I’ve made some progress!
What made you want to support the cause?
When Tracy told me that she wanted to set up a charity to provide support and assistance to stroke survivors and their families in Jersey, she did so with such passion and commitment, I had no option but to agree to get involved.
What do you do within the organisation?
Each of the directors has different skills and experience so our board has a real breadth of talent. Given my financial background, I’ve been able to help in setting up our bank account and online banking. It’s a joy and a privilege to work alongside such inspirational people who are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by stroke in Jersey and contribute to building a stronger support network in the community.
How can people help, from your perspective?
In our first year, we’ve been busy setting up the company, putting the appropriate governance in place and completing all the necessary registrations. We then needed to focus on fundraising which in a post COVID environment, has been challenging. We’ve been overwhelmed however, by the generosity of our Island and the support we’ve received which has really enabled us to progress our objectives which are now well underway.
One of the most direct ways people can help support Jersey Stroke Support Limited is to make a donation. This can be done online (Jersey Stroke Support) by mail, or in person. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference to the lives of stroke survivors and their families. Another way to help is by volunteering your time and skills. We rely on the support of volunteers to help in our fundraising activities.
Lastly, you can help raise awareness about Jersey Stroke Support Limited and the work it does by sharing information about the organisation with your friends, family, and community.
Nicole Le Miere
Nicole was born and grew up in Jersey. She has been a primary school teacher for over twenty years. She currently works at La Moye Primary School. She loves travelling and is always up for a challenge, particularly, if it has anything to do with raising money for Jersey Stroke Support. Nicole has run the Jersey Marathon and cycled from London to Paris and London to Amsterdam as part of Stroke-related charitable fundraising.
What made you want to support the cause?
I suffered a stroke in 2008 at the of 29. My life changed overnight and the years that followed were incredibly difficult. It wasn’t until I met and started being supported by people who had either had a stroke or knew an awful lot about life after stroke that I began to turn a corner. I felt that there was very little support in the island at that time. I believe that people who suffer strokes as well as their families deserve to have the opportunity to be supported throughout what I believe is changes your life.
What do you do within the organisation?
My role very much supports the Stroke Survivors and their families. I also hope that sharing the story of my Stroke and the impact it has had on my life, helps the general public to understand the impact stroke and its life long effects has on a day to day basis. I also support with fundraising, marketing and promoting. I am proud to be one of the directors of Jersey Stroke Support and I am determined to raise our charity’s profile in Jersey.
How can people help, from your perspective?
Jersey Stroke Support is a brand new small local charity and the money that is raised here, stays here. It is important to me that people in the island know that we exist, and know that everything we do, we do for people in Jersey. Please help us by spreading the word, tell friends, families, colleagues! We have big aspirations and would welcome any support in any way possible from islanders, to make our dreams come true!
Chris Cotillard
Chris is a Jerseyman. Born and educated in the Island, he is a director and owner of Alex Picot Trust. He is married with four children and a keen sportsman, having represented the Island at badminton and shooting on many occasions.
What made you want to support the cause?
I have known Tracy for a number of years through her prior stroke-related roles and she has given talks to Alex Picot Trust and we have carried out many fundraising initiatives to support her over the years. Knowing the impact that strokes have I was keen to help where possible individually but also Alex Picot Trust provides services to the Charity. I have been involved in many honorary roles with sports associations over the years but this was a perfect opportunity for me to start getting involved in the charity sector and start making an impact on Islanders.
What do you do within the organisation?
I am a general board member but being a Chartered Accountant I seem to have assumed the role of financial reporting to the Board!
How can people help, from your perspective?
The charity is still at the early stages of its development but fundraising initiatives and general donations to the Charity are always welcome along with considering the Charity for legacies in additional to the other worthwhile charities within the Island. As the charity develops there will likely be volunteering roles also required.
