Chloe Thorp

I’m taking on the challenge of Stride4Stroke and raising funds for Stroke Foundation!

On 8 February 2026, our world changed forever.

Jodey, a devoted nana, a loving mum, a cherished daughter, and the kind of best friend everyone deserves, suffered a catastrophic haemorrhagic pontine stroke.

One moment, life was ordinary. The next, our family was standing beside a hospital bed, facing a future we never imagined and praying for one more day.

For days, we waited. We hoped. We cried. We held onto every tiny sign that she was still with us.

Then, in true Jodey fashion, she woke up ready to fight.

If you ask her daughter Cassie, she’ll tell you Mum’s first order of business was landing a solid left hook straight into her kidney. It wasn’t exactly the welcome-back moment anyone had planned, but it was unmistakably our Jodey. Even after everything she’d endured, that fierce spirit was still there.

What followed was months of intensive care, rehabilitation, setbacks, and victories that most people never have to think twice about. Speaking. Swallowing. Sitting up. Standing. Walking. Every achievement was hard won.

Stroke doesn’t just happen to one person.

It happens to partners, children, parents, grandchildren, friends, and entire families.

It stole birthdays that should have been celebrated together. It stole anniversaries filled with laughter. It stole precious family moments that can never be replaced. Most heartbreakingly, it stole Jodey’s chance to be beside her daughter as she married the love of her life, a moment every mother dreams of sharing.

There are memories that can never be recreated.

But stroke didn’t steal who Jodey is.

It didn’t steal her stubborn determination. It didn’t steal her sense of humour. It didn’t steal the love she has for her family. And it certainly didn’t steal her will to keep fighting.

Every day she continues to amaze us. Every step forward is a reminder that hope is stronger than fear, and that recovery is built one determined moment at a time.

This September, we’re taking on Stride4Stroke in honour of Jodey, and in support of every Australian whose life has been turned upside down by stroke.

Almost 47,000 Australians will experience a stroke this year. That’s one person every 11 minutes.

Every $11 donated represents one stroke expected to occur in Australia this year.

Your support helps the Stroke Foundation:

• Prevent strokes through education and awareness.
• Support survivors and their families when life changes in an instant.
• Fund recovery programs that help people reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives.

On 8 February, we almost lost our Jodey.

Today, because of the incredible work of paramedics, doctors, nurses, therapists, and the unwavering support of those around her, we still get to hug her, laugh with her, cheer her on, and watch her continue to write the next chapter of her story.

Not every family gets that chance.

That’s why we’re walking.

We’re walking for Jodey.

We’re walking for every survivor still fighting.

We’re walking for every family sitting beside a hospital bed, hoping for a miracle.

And we’re walking so that one day, fewer families have to hear the words, “Your loved one has had a stroke.”

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our team. Every donation, every share, and every step helps bring hope to families just like ours.