United States Organization Takes First Place for World Stroke Campaign

PRESS RELEASE

(Dallas) March 9, 2015 — The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association topped entries from 44 other countries to earn the World Stroke Organization’s First Place “Gold Award” for World Stroke Day 2014.

A consortium of Brazilian stroke societies places second and the Pakistan Stroke Society and NARC, third.

Through its Together to End Stroke initiative, sponsored by Covidien, the American Stroke Association leveraged a thoughtful mix of social and traditional media tactics around World Stroke Day to help the public remember the most common stroke warning signs and how to respond.

A key champion for the U.S. campaign was American Supermodel Claudia Mason, who many regard as an unlikely stroke patient. Mason shared her memorable story with local and national radio and television shows, including with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on the TODAY Show. Mason is also the subject of an American Stroke Association print PSA released in conjunction with World Stroke Day 2014.

“We are very proud of our successful World Stroke Day campaign in the U.S. and are honored to receive this recognition,” said Mary Ann Bauman, M.D., chair of the American Stroke Association Advisory Committee. “We applaud the World Stroke Organization for coordinating World Stroke Day and helping us all work together to shine a light on stroke, which is truly a global health issue.”

The World Stroke Organization began the World Stroke Day Campaign in 2006 as a way to to mobilize the global community around stroke. This is the American Stroke Association’s first Gold Award.

“The 2014 submissions were all outstanding, from different regions in the world and different health settings,” said World Stroke Organization president Stephen Davis, M.D. “However, a common theme has been the use of mass communications and social media to spread the message that stroke is a largely preventable and treatable condition. My warm congratulations to the 2014 laureates.”

In the United States, 795,000 people have a stroke each year — about one every 40 seconds. For more information visit StrokeAssociation.org.

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About the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association was created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call

1-888-4STROKE

or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the World Stroke Organization

The World Stroke Organization (WSO) was established in October 2006. WSO’s mission is to reduce the global burden of stroke through prevention, treatment and long-term care. As the lead international body for stroke, WSO aims to accomplish its mission by:

• Fostering the best standards of practice
• Increasing stroke awareness among the population and among health professionals
• Preventing subtle cerebrovascular disease leading to gait disorders, imbalance, vascular cognitive impairment and behavioral changes
• Influencing policies for stroke prevention and improved health services

• Providing education in collaboration with public and private organizations
• Facilitating stroke research advocacy for people with stroke
• Fostering the development of systems and organizations for long-term care and support of stroke survivors and their families

With individual and organizational members worldwide, including stroke support groups, WSO is the global voice for stroke. WSO is the only international stroke NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). Prof. Stephen Davis, MD, FRCP, Edin FRACP, from Melbourne, Australia, is the president of the World Stroke Organization.