Tranmere Rovers Football Club partners with A Stroke of Luck

Tranmere Rovers Football Club has become the first EFL (English Football League) club to enter into a partnership with A Stroke of Luck to raise vital funds, drive awareness, and provide facilities to support the charity’s aims and objectives.

A Stroke of Luck (ASL), founded by stroke survivor, Craig Pankhurst, in May 2019 aims to match stroke survivors with local fitness professionals through an online platform to engage in physical training to improve their life post-stroke. A former International swimmer, Craig has a background in health and fitness and this, coupled with surviving his stroke in 2018, led him to start the charity.

Craig says that ASL are passionate about working in strategic partnerships with organisations who are able to offer tangible support to survivors.

Craig said: “We are absolutely delighted that Tranmere Rovers has seen the benefits A Stroke of Luck will be providing to survivors. Their level of support is incredible including providing the opportunity to use their fitness facilities, driving income generation, co-branding merchandise, and advertising the charity pitchside.”

The demand for a charity like A Stroke of Luck has been recognised by stroke survivors, medical professionals, and other charities whose focus is spread across research and prevention. The focus at A Stroke of Luck is ‘life after stroke’ and enabling survivors to have the best future possible.

A stroke can often leave a survivor with significant motor and neuro challenges. The physical, mental, emotional, and social impacts of a stroke can be damaging to the survivor’s appetite for life.

The NHS is a fantastic resource but is under constant fiscal and resource pressure. This has ramifications for those who desperately need the service given by such amazing professionals. ASL will be a support to the NHS, but most importantly, to the survivors who desperately need help.

Dawn Tolcher, Managing Director of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, was only too pleased to support Craig and ASL.

She said: “Just as football is all about solidarity, A Stroke of Luck focuses on bringing together fitness professionals and stroke survivors to implement tailored exercise programmes to increase the mental and physical wellbeing of the survivor.

“Tranmere Rovers are delighted to enter a partnership and together we will help support stroke survivors across the UK.”

The newly formed partnership matches the Tranmere Rovers’ ethos of being a football club within the heart of the local community and having a positive impact on thousands of people’s lives on a daily basis.

To mark TRFC linking up with A Stroke of Luck, the charity’s wristbands will be available to purchase prior to the home fixture against Gillingham on Saturday 7th September, 3pm kick-off at Prenton Park.
Stroke Survivors, fitness professionals, or anyone who would like to support A Stroke of Luck, can register their details at www.astrokeofluck.co.uk. The charity is in its early stages and is seeking all the support it can gain.

A charity ball will be hosted in October 2019 to celebrate the launch of ASL at Anfield Stadium and tickets will be available to purchase shortly. For more information, please contact hello@astrokeofluck.co.uk.