Russell Johnson, 56 of Leek, says being a volunteer for the Stroke Association has helped give meaning to his life after stroke.
The happily married and keen mountain-biker’s life was turned upside down when he had a mini-stroke followed by a serious bleed on the brain in November 2020.
Aged just 51 at the time, he had to relearn how to stand up, eat and walk.
Despite the odds, Russ has made remarkable progress and he is now a passionate Stroke Association volunteer, providing other stroke survivors with vital telephone support. He has found volunteering to be a crucial part of his own recovery journey.
He said: “I survived a stroke and now I have the privilege of being able to help other people through that.
“When you’re down on the floor, sometimes all you need is a helping hand to get up. That’s what the phone calls are.
“Whether it’s going back to work, making a cup of tea or standing up unaided, I try to help people see the positives and celebrate every improvement they make - big or small.
“Volunteering is my medicine. Helping other stroke survivors keeps me going with my recovery. I am grateful for every day, for the things that I have and for simply being here.”
Russ found out about the Stroke Association after receiving support from the charity himself.
Since September 2023, he has been a Lived Experience volunteer and provides Weekly Volunteer Calls to stroke survivors. These offer people a chance to chat, feel connected and learn new ways to cope with the impact of stroke.
Although nervous at first, Russ was given training and support to prepare for the role.
He recalled: “I remember being more nervous than the chap I was calling! I just listened and shared my own experiences. By the eighth call, he’d managed to start walking again and had joined a walking group. I didn’t ‘fix’ him – I just sowed seeds of
hope.”
For Russ, volunteering has become part of his own personal, long-term recovery journey. He values both giving and getting support.
He explained: “I have about four phone calls a week and speaking to people with more complex needs than mine is very grounding. It gives me perspective.
“I still have a sensation of pins and needles in my eye, the pain has never left me and I get fatigued from the stroke... But time is precious. And this is how I want to spend mine.”
Russ is encouraging that more people with lived experience, both stroke survivors and carers, consider volunteering to support themselves and others.
He said: “The most important things that stroke survivors need are patience and hope. I try to give people confidence to take small steps in their recovery, one at a time, and do the best they can.
“I would recommend volunteering at the Stroke Association to anyone. Just have a go. You won’t have all the answers, but you can share your own experiences and mostly importantly – just listen.
“As long as I can hold a phone to my ear, I’ll carry on doing what I’m doing.”