FAST Heroes: Saving the World One Grandhero at a Time

Client: Twelve, CTL Communications and Lucan TV

Stroke is one of the biggest reasons that children lose their grandparents. In fact, one in four people will experience a stroke in their lifetime and the average age of a stroke victim is 73. Thankfully, stroke can be treated effectively, but only if the patient receives help quickly enough. But there’s a problem - 80% of patients don’t realise they are having a stroke until it’s too late. In cases where they do, nine in ten don’t call an ambulance but speak to a family member first. We realised that to save lives, people needed educating on stroke symptoms and the importance of acting quickly!

Enter FAST Heroes, a global health awareness campaign aimed at saving and preserving lives that are impacted by stroke, which uniquely uses children as the catalyst for helping spread the life-saving knowledge. Leveraging young children’s enthusiasm for learning and their special relationship with their grandparents, FAST Heroes is implemented in Primary Schools across the globe. Over 800,000 children have participated and been tasked with the mission of sharing what they've learnt with their families - specifically, the signs of stroke and the importance of calling the emergency services straight away if these signs are spotted.