Stroke Awareness Week 2026
Raising awareness. Supporting research. Creating better outcomes.
Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age.
During Stroke Awareness Week, the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation joined with researchers, health professionals and our community to raise awareness of stroke, share potentially life-saving information and support vital stroke research here in South Australia.
From taking stroke education into the community, to getting active and raising funds for research, it was a week about turning awareness into action.
Know the signs. B.E. F.A.S.T.
One of the most important messages is how to recognise the signs of stroke. Recently the stroke acronym was updated to B.E. F.A.S.T. - to incorporate the warning signs of posterior stroke, often characterised by vague symptoms such as dizziness, visual problems, headache and loss of balance.
Stroke researchers and clinicians can often be heard saying "time is brain". This is because during a stroke, you lose as many as 2 million brain cells per minute. This is one of the many reasons not to downplay the seriousness when it comes to the warning signs of a stroke.
So remember to think B.E. F.A.S.T - Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time. When these symptoms appear suddenly and together don't "wait and see". It's important to think stroke and call 000 immediately - you could save a life.
Stroke research in our community
Our Stroke Team from the Translational Neuropathology Laboratory took Stroke Awareness Week beyond social media, visiting Gaynes Park Suites to speak with residents about stroke.
The team delivered an interactive session covering stroke awareness, myth busting, recognising the signs of stroke using B.E. F.A.S.T. and some of the exciting research currently underway in the laboratory.
Residents were highly engaged and asked thoughtful questions about their own experiences and the team's research.
Thank you to the residents and staff at Gaynes Park Suites for the warm welcome and engaging discussion.
We look forward to continuing to share stroke awareness and the latest advances in research with our community.
Moving for stroke research
We wrapped up the week with our Yoga for Stroke Awareness event at Thrive Fit + Social in Norwood.
It was a wonderfully relaxing morning of movement, mindfulness and connection, with participants enjoying a gentle, beginner-friendly yoga class while supporting stroke research.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us.
We are incredibly grateful to Thrive Fit + Social for generously donating the space, Inderjit for generously teaching the class for free, and Nicole Turner for providing free blood pressure checks and helping participants understand one of the leading risk factors for stroke.
The event raised $215.90, with 100% of funds raised going towards stroke research.
We hope to make Stretch for Stroke a Stroke Awareness Week tradition!
Striding for Stroke
Our Stroke Awareness Week efforts were also supported by Team Stroke from the Adelaide University Translational Neuropathology Laboratory.
Throughout May, the team walked and ran as part of Striding for Stroke, raising awareness of stroke within the community and funds for vital stroke research.
Together, Team Stroke raised an incredible $1,285.12.
Combined with our Yoga for Stroke Awareness event, that's $1,501.02 raised for stroke research.
Thank you to everyone who walked, ran, stretched, donated, shared our posts or simply took the time to learn more about stroke.
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Looking beyond the brain
The impact of stroke can extend well beyond the initial event.
Professor Renée Turner and her team are investigating post-stroke neurodegeneration — changes that can occur in the brain after a stroke and contribute to long-term cognitive decline and other challenges for survivors.
The project has secured more than $4 million in funding, including a $3.5 million NHMRC Ideas Grant and an additional $500,000 commitment from the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation.
The research is looking beyond the brain to investigate the relationship between the gut and brain, with the goal of finding new ways to improve recovery and quality of life for people living with the long-term effects of stroke.
Hear more about this exciting research
You can hear more about Professor Turner's research and the impact of NRF funding as well as several other exciting projects at our upcoming free public NRF Research Impact Showcase & AGM.
Thank you for helping us turn awareness into action
If you would still like to make a donation to the stroke appeal and support stroke research here in SA you can donate here.
