MGS boarding student Tom Holt’s mission for stroke awareness

Melbourne Grammar School boarder Tom Holt knows first-hand the difficulties of recuperating from a stroke when you’re based in the bush.

Melbourne Grammar School, Melbourne, Year 11 student Tom Holt, from Urana, NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The trauma for victims and their families affected by stroke is something not lost on Melbourne Grammar School student Tom Holt.

The Year 11 boarder, from Urana in the NSW Riverina, was on a flight home to his family’s sheep and cattle farm last year when his mum suffered a severe stroke. He found out later she had been flown to Canberra’s neurological unit.

“Dad and I visited the hospital every day for two weeks and saw rapid progression in mum’s health,” Tom said. “She is a lot better now. She has some struggle speaking but she is doing so well and is back into her PhD studies in animal health.”

Tom has made it his mission to raise awareness on the effects, stereotypes and knowledge surrounding stroke.

Melbourne Grammar School Year 11 boarder Tom Holt, from Urana NSW, is raising awareness and funds for the Stroke Foundation. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“I drove my mum over 100 hours during the period at the end of term four to speech therapy, to physio and to rehab. I saw first-hand the effects of strokes not only on people in the hospital but on my family,” he said.

Tom has organised a fundraising event for the Stroke Foundation at his Melbourne school this Friday, which will include an exhibition football match of students versus teachers, bake sale, longest kick competition and casual clothes day where students can signify their support by wearing green.

“Raising awareness can do double what raising funds can do,” Tom said.

“A lot of people don’t realise the signs of stroke and it can be very dangerous. In regional and remote communities it is even more important that they recognise the signs early because they are so far from help.”