Join stroke bake plan

Four years ago while was in Rio winning gold with the women’s hockey team, my lovely 95-year-old Nanna, Dolly, had a stroke. I saw first-hand how important support is in helping stroke survivors to rebuild their lives.

I know that many people had a stroke during lockdown and many survivors returned home from hospital without any support or contact. The Stroke Association has been providing telephone counselling and emotional support for most of them but they need our help to reach even more people.

So I’ll be heading into the kitchen to bake some tasty treats for the charity’s Give a Hand and Bake week starting on 26 October. We may not be able to get together with family and friends, but you could arrange a Zoom party where everyone can share their goodies or give some baking

as a gift, in return for a donation to the charity.

To get involved, visit www.stroke.org.uk/baking. They have some lovely healthy recipes using LoSalt, the charity’s partner in its #HealthierUK drive to raise awareness of how lifestyles can affect the risk of stroke.

Or if you haven’t time to bake it, why not fake it and buy something instead? I won’t tell!

I’m delighted to say that thanks to her determination and the support she received, my Nanna is still going strong at 99 and I’m sure she’ll enjoy the cupcakes I’m baking for her.

Best wishes and stay safe everyone Samantha Quek, Olympic gold medallist and TV personality