Press release -
Stirling sisters honour mum by raising more than £20k for Stroke Association
Sisters Kirsty and Shirley Macgowan remember when their mum died of a stroke with immense sadness. She was only 62 and seemed well, from keeping fit and healthy. In fact, she had been out on her bike the day before she had a stroke.
That was 23rd July 2008, and they still feel their mum, Molly’s loss keenly. The sisters say, “Mum's stroke was so sudden and unexpected - it made us realise how little we and many others know about this big killer.”
Stroke is Scotland’s fourth biggest killer and the leading cause of adult disability.
Kirsty and Shirley have been actively raising money for the Stroke Association for 15 years in a bid to raise awareness of the condition, which struck almost 600 people in the NHS Forth Valley area in 2023. They smashed the £20,000 barrier last summer with their fundraising total currently sitting at £20,870.
The two sisters follow in their mum’s footsteps in enjoying cycling, as well as running and have been traversing triathlon courses and cycling across Scotland cheered on by generous family, friends and supporters. They have also run socials including discos, ceilidhs and a ladies pamper night.
Coming up on 15th March is their latest venture, an open door ‘Cabaroke’ night at Stirling Indoor Bowling Club on Forth Street promising disco, music and laughter in aid of the Stroke Association.
Shirley says, “There’s not a day goes by when we don’t think of Mum. She missed out on so much, including seeing her granddaughter grow up to be strong like her.”
Shirely’s daughter, Eilidh, feels a strong connection to Granny Molly, also getting involved in recent fundraising – even though Molly died before Eilidh was born.
Kirsty adds: “There didn’t seem much you could do when you had a stroke back then. But through our fundraising, we have learned that it’s possible to manage key things that contribute to the condition like high blood pressure. We’ve also been shown research advances that could make a tremendous difference to stroke treatment and rehabilitation. And feel happy to have raised funds for such an important cause.”
For tickets for the Cabaroke at £7 – or simply to buy a strip of raffle tickets for £2 – visit https://molly-macgowan.muchloved.com/Home
John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “The Macgowan sisters’ Herculean efforts have raised an incredible sum and their continued support means the Stroke Association can help more people in Scotland to recognise the signs of stroke, and access vital support when stroke happens.”
You can find out more about the Stroke Association’s support at https://www.stroke.org.uk/scotland
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Over 90,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and traumatic battle to finding their way back to life.
The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing life-long support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year, fund vital scientific research, and campaign to bring the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.
Anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough.
