Pupils in Year 6 at Hernhill Church of England Primary School held a bring-and-buy sale to raise money to buy items to support patients’ recovery, and presented them to James Sampson, clinical therapy lead for stroke services for East Kent Hospitals.
They were inspired by deputy headteacher Julia Woodcock, whose dad Mick was treated at William Harvey Hospital, and then the Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C), after suffering a stroke in September 2024.
She said: “Every year in school we have a social action project and this year I wanted to do something personal to help people like my dad.
“I am so proud of the incredible young people, who really embraced the idea and learned all about how simple games and resources can make a real difference to patients.
“They raised £400 with their sale and each group researched and created their own box of items.
“I then had 13 volunteers who gave up part of their last ever day at primary school to come with me and hand over the boxes.”
Mick was initially treated in the critical care unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, before being transferred to K&C for rehabilitation. Julia and her family learnt about neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to rewire itself after injury. It can help people relearn skills such as speaking, swallowing, moving and walking, and the process continues for many years after the injury.
While he was in critical care, the family used squidgy balls to help kickstart the process, and Mick’s recovery gathered pace when he was transferred to K&C for rehabilitation.
Julia said: “Every visit became an opportunity to keep that brain working. We coloured together, played Connect 4, threw and caught balls, completed puzzles and kept moving whenever we could with items purchased online.
“Thanks to the incredible encouragement and expertise of the rehabilitation team, Dad slowly progressed from feeding tubes and puréed food to eating independently, and from being unable to walk to taking those precious first steps again.
“We included dad’s story in the boxes so other patients could see what is possible. We spent hours on the ward with him and could see there are so many opportunities when the items could be used.
“We were told he would not be able to walk so it is so wonderful to see him wobbling around with his stick. The staff on the stroke wards were absolutely brilliant and it was lovely to be able to see James again, as he had looked after dad.”
Mick also spent time in Westbrook House, a specialist rehabilitation centre, and attends the Kent Neuro Therapy Centre in Canterbury for hydrotherapy, which has helped him regain mobility.
James said: “We were delighted to meet the children and to hear how well Mick is doing now.
“It was incredibly kind of them to think of our patients and we really appreciated their efforts to raise money and put together the boxes.
“They will definitely be put to good use.”
