Colchester Stroke Club seeking new members

The Colchester Stroke Club offers numerous benefits to stroke victims and their families, executive director Sheila Osmond says, and she is encouraging affected individuals to come out and see for themselves.

“Unfortunately, we’ve lost a few members,” said Osmond, who became involved with the club in 1995 after her own late husband, Jack, suffered a stroke.

The club, in existence since 1980, currently has about 20 active members who attend the weekly sessions, but Osmond said there is room for more to join.

And while brochures about the club are available in doctor’s offices and health clinics, Osmond said the information can easily get overlooked when families are initially dealing with care for a stroke sufferer.

“Quite often when people have a stroke they are in an acute med- ical situation of life or death so that takes priority over information about an ongoing support group.”

The group meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the former Douglas Street school on Douglas Street (off Young).

Membership is $4 per meeting with lunch provided. Activities include a “wonderful” program called “music magic which, she said, “serves as a form of therapy to help connect the mind and body,” as well as physical exercises and therapists who work with the stroke sufferers.

The club also celebrates special calendar occasions, birthdays and provides inspirational guest speakers. Members also get to participate in craft making, bingo and such bused outings as bowling, fishing trips and so forth.

For more information, Osmond can be reached by calling 902-895-6234, through the Facebook group or by email at sheilaosmond@hotmail.com.