Every year, Different Strokes recognises the remarkable achievements of our volunteers For 2025, we are proud to announce that the Peter Shave Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Sue Sandars, a passionate ambassador, a fearless campaigner, and an all-round inspiration.
From giving keynote speeches to befriending stroke survivors both online and in person, Sue’s commitment to raising awareness and offering support is second to none. But behind her work is a deeply personal journey – one that began with a life-changing stroke at the age of just 48.
A Life Turned Upside Down
In July 2010, Sue’s world shifted dramatically. The day before her stroke, she was a full-time working mum with two sons – Charles, then 19, and Ed, 13.
Her days were packed with commuting from Moreton-in-Marsh to Leamington Spa, school runs, sports clubs, and preparing for Charles’ start at university.
Then, in the early hours of 14th July 2010, everything changed. Waking in the night for what seemed like a routine trip to the bathroom, Sue discovered she couldn’t use her left hand. She felt her head banging against the shower cubicle and realised something was seriously wrong. Her husband, Nik, acted quickly – and the terrifying reality set in: Sue was having a stroke.
She was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where she was thrombolysed, before spending months in hospital and rehabilitation centres. Despite the severity of her condition, Sue tackled her recovery with resilience, humour, and grit – walking out of hospital using a Nordic pole six months later, refusing to leave in a wheelchair.
The long-term effects of Sue’s stroke are still part of her daily reality. Physically, she is left side hemiplegic with extreme hypersensitivity. She often experiences fatigue that hits without warning – something she describes as “like walking through treacle.” Her speech has improved dramatically, but word-finding can still trip her up, especially when she’s tired or stressed. Emotionally, there are scars too – the grief of losing the old version of herself, and the quiet, persistent anxiety that another stroke could strike. Yet through it all, Sue has learned to adapt, to ask for help, and to be unapologetically open about her limitations. “It’s still me,” she says. “Just a slightly reprogrammed version.”
Twelve years ago, Sue returned to work part-time for a local company Total Home Environment Ltd in Moreton-in-Marsh. She says “They saw possibilities in me and often that’s all that a stroke survivor needs, a chance or an opportunity to prove their worth”.
Finding Her Voice – and Her Cause
Sue’s journey with Different Strokes began not long after her hospital discharge, when she discovered the charity by chance. She joined the Facebook group in 2011 and immediately felt a connection.
“I felt like I’d found my tribe,” Sue says. “Different Strokes spoke to me – it was full of people who just got it. We’d been through something similar, and we were all trying to find a way forward.”
Although her official title as a volunteer ambassador didn’t come until 2018, Sue had already been hard at work long before that – promoting awareness, offering guidance to fellow survivors, and using her background in sales and marketing to give stroke survivors a stronger voice. Whether speaking at NHS events or giving heartfelt talks to local groups, Sue has never stopped advocating for stroke in younger people.
The Joy of Volunteering
For Sue, volunteering isn’t just about helping others – it’s about rediscovering purpose and joy in life after stroke.
“After everything I’d been through, I needed something that gave me a reason to get up in the morning,” she explains. “Volunteering has been that reason. It’s given me confidence, connection, and a platform to use my voice.”
From her work with Different Strokes to her involvement with Reconnect Gloucestershire and visits to community hospitals, Sue’s passion is infectious. She’s a familiar and much-loved figure in our community, known for her warmth, humour, and can-do attitude.
A Word from Our CEO
Austin Willett, Chief Executive of Different Strokes, shared this tribute:
“Sue is a shining example of what it means to live a full and vibrant life after stroke. Her dedication as a volunteer ambassador has helped countless people feel less alone, more informed, and more hopeful. She brings authenticity, energy and compassion to everything she does, and we’re incredibly lucky to have her in the Different Strokes family. It’s wonderful to be able to award her the Peter Shave Volunteer of the Year Award 2025.”
Gratitude, Reflections, and Advice
Receiving the news that she’d won the Volunteer of the Year award was an emotional moment for Sue.
“I was totally shocked – and yes, I cried!” she laughs. “It means so much to be recognised, but honestly, I do it because I care. I know what it feels like to be lost after a stroke, and if I can help just one person feel a little more hopeful, it’s worth it.”
She has a few heartfelt thankyous to offer:
“I have to thank my family – Nik, Ed, and Charles – who’ve supported me every step of the way. To the Different Strokes team, thank you for trusting me, supporting me, and giving me the opportunity to make a difference.
To anyone who has nominated me, I am truly humbled to be nominated by my fellow survivors, we all have our own daily battles, some more than others.”
And her advice to other stroke survivors?
“Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. Recovery is personal – it doesn’t come in a neat little box. Keep pushing, be kind to yourself, and surround yourself with people who lift you up. Volunteering helped me find me again – it could do the same for you.”
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Sue isn’t planning on slowing down. In fact, she’s got a whole list of ideas – not a bucket list, but in her words, a “f**k it” list.
“It’s not about ticking off achievements for the sake of it,” she says. “It’s about saying ‘f**k it’ and doing the things you want to do anyway. Life’s too short to wait around! My mantra is I kissed death, I’m hugging life and living!”
She’s already got plans to go canoeing again, deliver a talk for the Cricklade WI, and she’s open to more keynote speaking opportunities wherever they might come. “If people want me, I’ll say yes – why not?” she adds.
Sue’s story is a reminder that there is life after stroke! Through courage, compassion, and a deep commitment to others, she’s shown that recovery isn’t just about physical progress – it’s about rediscovering purpose, finding community and embracing life as it is now.
Congratulations, Sue – your strength, spirit, and service are an inspiration to us all.
The post Sue Sandars is our Peter Shave Volunteer of the Year 2025 appeared first on Different Strokes.
