Blythe Barracudas, a swim club based in Solihull, will host a charity fun gala on Saturday 18 July at Tudor Grange pool, with the event due to start at 5pm.
Around 80 children will take part, split into two teams to compete in relay, individual and team races, alongside a number of fun activity races. The day is being held to raise money for the Stroke Association.
A raffle will also take place, with prizes donated by local companies.
The fundraiser has a personal significance for the club’s head coach, Sasha Lindsay, whose father, Andy, suffered a major stroke in January 2025. According to a GoFundMe page set up by Sasha, the family had recently returned from a skiing holiday during which Andy experienced changes to his vision and spells of dizziness.
Two days later, he became unwell with sickness and lost his balance, prompting his wife to call NHS 111. He was taken first to Solihull Hospital, then transferred to Warwick Hospital, where scans confirmed he had suffered a stroke, having also experienced a series of transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) beforehand.
Head coach Sasha Lindsay and her father, Andy who suffered a major stroke. Image: Sasha Lindsay.The following morning, Andy began having seizures and needed emergency surgery to remove a blood clot, after which he was placed in an induced coma. He went on to spend a month in intensive care, three months on a neurology ward, and a further six months in rehabilitation. During the early stages of his treatment, the family was told to prepare for the possibility that he might never walk, talk or regain his previous memories.
With support from hospital staff, Andy relearned to walk and talk independently, though he continues to live with significant effects from the brain damage he sustained, particularly to his memory and vision. He is now at home, supported by his wife and daughters, and has returned to activities including daily walks, socialising, running and walking football.
As well as raising money, organisers hope the event will raise awareness of stroke symptoms, particularly those that fall outside the commonly known FAST guidance, since Andy’s own symptoms did not fit the typical pattern.
The FAST acronym, widely used in public health campaigns, stands for:
F – Face
A – Arms
S – Speech
T – Time
Organisers are highlighting an extended version, BE FAST, which adds two further warning signs:
B – Balance
E – Eyes
F – Face
A – Arms
S – Speech
T – Time
A GoFundMe page, titled “Sasha’s Stroke Association fundraiser” and organised by Sasha Lindsay, has been set up to support the cause, with a target of £2,000 for patients and families living with the effects of stroke.
Sasha is also due to take part in the Wolf Run in September 2026, in aid of the Stroke Association, as part of what she has described as the start of a longer fundraising effort.
Sasha’s Stroke Association fundraiser can be found here.
