A RETIRED garage owner and motor mechanic from Worcester, who lost both his wife and mother to strokes, is helping to organise a fund-raising concert in aid of the Stroke Association and Worcester Stroke Support Group.

Charlie Hodges, aged 75, lost his wife Margaret to a stroke 14 years ago and his mother Betty to a stroke in 2013. He has supported the Stroke Association ever since.

In fact he started fund-raising for the Stroke Association when he asked for donations to the good cause for his 70th birthday instead of presents.

His latest charity event is this Friday (April 20) at St Peter’s Baptist Church where a concert, starting at 7.30pm, will be held.

The concert line-up includes Debbie Miles and Matthew Long, as well as street dancing from Beatbreakerz School of Dance. Guests can also enjoy tea and cakes during the evening.

Charlie said: “The Stroke Association is a wonderful charity which helps so many stroke survivors across the UK to adjust to their life after stroke. I’m hoping to see lots of people at the concert, which is set to be a great evening and will all help to raise vital funds for a very important cause.”

Claire Weaver, community and events fundraiser for the Stroke Association, said: “There are around 1.2 million people in the UK are living with the devastating impact of stroke.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Charlie and his team of helpers for their continued support for the Stroke Association and for organising the concert.

“A stroke can happen to anyone at any time and it turns lives upside down in an instant. With the support of people like Charlie we can reach out to more stroke survivors and their families as they rebuild their lives.”

For more information about the concert and tickets, please call Charlie Hodges on 01905 421324.

• A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

• If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain injury, disability and possibly death.

• There are two main causes of a stroke. The most common (85 per cent of cases) is called ischaemic, where the supply of blood to the brain is stopped because of a clot. The other is haemorrhagic where a weaken blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.

• Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes increase the risk of having a stroke.

• There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year - that is around one stroke every five minutes.

• The Stroke Association works directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. It campaigns to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. It funds research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk