In the last year the local charity delivered health and wellbeing checks to Royal Mail staff throughout Northern Ireland. This week the Association took the 2,000th blood pressure check at Royal Mail’s Lisburn delivery office. The initiative is part of Royal Mail’s charity partnership with the Stroke Association, which supports postal staff to reduce their risk of stroke and raise £2million to provide ‘Life After Stroke’ grants. Last year more than £31,500 worth of grants were given to stroke survivors and their families in Northern Ireland, to help rebuild their lives. Every year more than 4,000 strokes occur in Northern Ireland and a quarter of all strokes are fatal within a year. There are 35,000 stroke survivors in Northern Ireland. The Stroke Association is Northern Ireland’s only charity solely dedicated to stroke and provides support, information, speech and language therapy and grants for local stroke survivors. Paul Sweeney, Royal Mail General Manager in Northern Ireland said: “We’re delighted to reach this important milestone with the Stroke Association. “Through the Know Your Blood Pressure programme, Royal Mail has become more aware of the risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, obesity and smoking, and have been supported to take steps to reduce their risk. “Our staff are also on course to raise £2million to provide grants to stroke survivors throughout the UK.” Aibhlin Neeson, Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Stroke Association added: “Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of stroke by up to six times but too often people don’t realise they have high blood pressure. “That’s why our blood pressure checks are so important. “We’re really grateful to our partners in Royal Mail for making this initiative such a success”.