UP CLOSE: Meet Len, 87, founder of Exmouth Stroke Survivors Club

"We're a family," said Steve, the new leader of the club, "and Len is our dad."

"No, grandad!" Len said, smiling.

The Exmouth Stroke Survivors Club is a community group for people who have had a stroke to share experiences and make friends - and their family members and carers are welcome too.

The leader of the club is Steve. He took over in February this year after the previous leader and founder, Len, was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Steve said: "We think Len deserves a knighthood! He needs a gold medal for what he's been through."

When the club started

Len, 87, founded the club in 2009. He said: "I had my first stroke in 2002, and don't remember anything until New Year's Day.

"I [initially] advertised in the paper for people who had had a stroke to come to a cafe."

The club has since grown and now meets in Exmouth Library on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12pm.

All welcome, including family and carers

Steve said: "We want people to come along and get the help they deserve.

"If we can help just one person, we'll have done our job."

"We've had people from Budleigh, Exeter, Paignton, Cornwall, join us. It's not just for stroke patients, it's for their families too.

What you can expect at the club

"The door's always open. There's 24-hour support for all the members. If someone came up to me and said 'I don't feel well', we'll get in touch with a doctor.

"We can do music, which is good for strokes - people can sing after a stroke [despite not being able to talk]. If anybody's got some musical instruments to donate we'd be very grateful. We're starting it next week.

"We go on trips, go to garden centres; we had darts last week, and we've got draughts and dominoes.

"We've got our Dartmouth trip coming up on 22 September, and our Christmas party coming up soon at Kings Garden Centre."

Club member Joan said: "It's given me an idea of what life's like for other people when they've had a stroke."

If you would like to join, please call Steve on 01395 744362 or email [email protected]

Click here to visit the club's website, where you can find a list of upcoming events.

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