Want to take on one of Brighton’s most fun and rewarding annual challenges? And with a team of fun, caring and motivated people? Say Aphasia is a charity partner for the Brighton Half Marathon in February 2023 and has 50 free places. To grab one for yourself, you simply need to raise money for this brilliant local charity. Head over to sayaphasia.org to sign up.
Say Aphasia is a rapidly growing nationwide charity founded 6 years ago in Brighton & Hove. Colin Lyall, a Brighton local, suffered a stroke which caused the life changing condition aphasia. He set up the charity to help others like him.
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a communication disability caused by damage to the communication areas of the brain (left side), which are responsible for understanding and producing language. People with aphasia often struggle with reading, listening, speaking, typing or writing – and may make mistakes with the words they use.
Common causes include stroke, severe head injury, a brain tumour and progressive neurological conditions, such as dementia.
What does Say Aphasia do?
Despite over 350,000 in the UK living with aphasia, not many people have heard of it. One of Say Aphasia’s aims is to raise awareness and understanding so that people with aphasia can enjoy day-to-day interactions and feel connected to others. The more people understand how to communicate with someone with aphasia, the easier and less lonely their lives can be.
The charity also offers a welcoming community for people with aphasia, currently running 14 sociable drop-in groups across the country, seven of which are in Sussex. The groups help to alleviate feelings of depression and isolation that people with aphasia may experience. And they offer encouragement and hope that things can get better.
If you would like to run the Brighton Half Marathon for free, and raise money for Say Aphasia, please contact lauren@sayaphasia.org or visit sayaphasia.org
