This year World Stroke Day was focused on stroke prevention, building on the 2019 Don’t Be the One theme with a call to ‘Join the MoveMent’ and to get active to help reduce stroke risk. Around the world, individuals and groups participated in a Global Dance Chain to raise visibility and share the message. Impressive dance videos from Brazil to Bali, Singpore to South Africa were posted and challenges were issued to colleagues, friends and family to get involved. Doctors, nurses, rehab specialists, survivors, caregivers, children, dogs, cats, social media influencers and even a man in a chicken costume (true!), were shared in a social media campaign which achieved a total reach of over 5 million.
The WSO campaign highlighted stroke risk and prevention information resources that had been developed and translated for the 2019 campaign and continued to promote the WSO endorsed Stroke Riskometer mobile app as way for individuals to identify and take action on their individual risk factors.
Members around the world mobilised their networks to deliver dance video content but we also saw impressive social media outreach to journalists and social media influencers who helped to take the message on prevention beyond the stroke community.
Our partners in the Angels Initiative mobilised neurologists around the world and developed campaign-specific FAST heroes animations to take the message on prevention to children and their families.
Given the daily pressures that everyone has faced this year, the response to the campaign call to action was both incredible and inspiring, and demonstrates the commitment and energy of the stroke community. Moving forward we will be applying the lessons learned to our FAST awareness campaign in 2021.
World Stroke Day by Numbers
If you have videos that you would like to share, please send them to campaign@world-stroke.org with the details of the lead organization/individuals and location. We will be happy to upload them to our YouTube playlist for everyone to enjoy.