Stroke has a major impact on the lives of individuals it affects. Stroke is the largest single cause of severe disability and the third most common cause of death in the UK after heart disease and cancer.

Launched in April 2007, the StrokeBusters Appeal contributed £750,000 towards a gold-standard Stroke Unit at Southend University Hospital with a new 14-bedded Acute Stroke Unit, state-of-the-art equipment and enhanced rehabilitation facilities.

Now complete the £1 million unit has dramatically helped to reduce the level of disability in stroke patients and has become one of the top three stroke services in the UK.