Go Steelers!

26 Aug 2024

The World Stroke Organization is delighted to announce an important new team signing, that should power some important wins for their 2024 #GreaterThan > stroke awareness campaign.

In an exciting move, South Korean K League1 soccer team, the Pohang Steelers, have agreed to channel their signature ‘Steel ki-taka’ (attack energy) to raise awareness of stroke in the run up to World Stroke Day on October 29th.

The deal, facilitated by Medical Research Institute of Pohang Stroke and Spine Hospital, will see Pohang Steelers deploying their stadium screens and social media to show stroke awareness videos, to share team video messages on their social media channels, and to run stroke fact quizzes throughout the two month campaign period. Armbands carrying the campaign Team #GreaterThan brand, will be worn by team members and distributed to fans during matches to help build community awareness and engagement.

‘The collaboration is a perfect example of how the World Stroke Day #GreaterThan Campaign aims to harness the energy, inspiration and community engagement of sports to reach new audiences. By working with our amazing members to establish new partnerships with sports teams and professionals, our campaign aims to bring life-saving information to members of the public whose knowledge of their team’s performance might be stronger than their awareness of their 1 in 4 lifetime risk of stroke.’ said Dr Deidre De Silva, co-Chair of the World Stroke Campaign.

‘The #GreaterThan campaign isn’t just for those who follow sport’ continued co-Chair Dr Àngel Corredor. ‘With our Global Challenge we’re calling on everyone to commit to getting active every day throughout October. With 1 in 4 of us at risk, prioritising physical activity is something we all can do to reduce our chance of having a stroke. By registering online, logging your minutes and making exercise part of your daily routine, you can not only reduce your individual risk of stroke, you can also be part of a global team, working together to show that we can be #GreaterThan stroke’.

The #GreaterThan Challenge has been designed to be as inclusive as possible, participants can choose activity that works for them and can log their minutes online via the website, synching a fitness tracker, or where access to data might be difficult by submitting a form. Vouchers to support free participation will be distributed via WSO members in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. And while the focus of the awareness campaign is on stroke prevention, the team also wants to gather and celebrate stories of #GreaterThan Gamechangers – inspiring stories of individuals whose passion for sport has been used to power stroke rehabilitation and recovery. Check out some of the inspirational stories on our website. and if you have a Gamechanger story to share, submit it via our #GreaterThan challenge page.

For more information about the challenge and how you can spread the word