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Dear Friend of the
American Stroke Foundation –
When Mark McAuley had his stroke at age 61, his life was changed forever.
He still struggles today with some everyday activities, but
participating in the American Stroke Foundation programs helps him
get better every day. Mark takes advantage of the opportunity to
exercise and feel physically fit, to increase his ability to
communicate, and to socialize with other stroke survivors.
 “I enjoy
the social interaction with the other stroke survivors. It’s nice
to know other people who have had strokes, to encourage and be
encouraged by them, since this is such a major life-changing event.”
Mark
McAuley, stroke survivor
Life
also changed for Mark’s wife, Virginia. She takes advantage of ASF
programming and the opportunity to give and receive support from
other family members.
 “I enjoy
the camaraderie of being with people who understand what we’re
going through. The ASF has a family atmosphere as opposed to a
medical atmosphere. My husband loves coming and is upset when we
don’t come.”
Virginia
McAuley, family member
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The American Stroke Foundation
helps stroke victims transform themselves into stroke survivors
The ASF takes a holistic approach to
working with stroke survivors, offering programs that address their
physical, cognitive, social and emotional well-being. Our programs
are available to everyone, including survivors of stroke who are
under-served and under-insured, regardless of
their ability to pay. Through our fitness programs, speech classes,
life skills development, and support groups like 2 Young 4 Stroke,
the American Stroke Foundation continues its mission of supporting
stroke survivors and their families as they continue the journey to
recovery.
Your support
in the past has helped us accomplish so much – here are some of our
recent successes:
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We
finalized a partnership agreement with the YMCA of Greater Kansas
City to bring the ASF’s multi-faceted program for stroke survivors
into Y facilities.
The pilot program called Living
After Stroke will begin in the Blue Springs Y in early 2012.
It has long been a goal of the ASF board of directors to expand
the number of locations where ASF provides programming. This
partnership with the Y positions us to fulfill the dream of taking
the ASF to survivors across the community.
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We
influence the future of stroke wellness through teaching.
We provide meaningful fieldwork
opportunities for students preparing to begin careers in health care.
In 2011 the ASF staff mentored student interns in occupational
therapy, physical therapy, speech pathology and social work. These
students come to us from schools across the country and leave with
real world knowledge about stroke and the challenges of living life
after one, in addition to practical knowledge about how best to
provide services that support recovery and hope.
 “The ASF provides a unique
learning experience for OT students. We have the opportunity to
participate in all aspects of the program, from planning to direct
service to outreach and advocacy. We are well prepared to take the
skills we develop here and apply them in our future work with stroke
survivors.”
Lauri Llewellyn &
Elayna Strell, OT students
Sponsors
Platinum Level Sponsors
Gold Level Sponsors
 
Silver Level Sponsors
 
 
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