By Adam Donnelly

Heart & Stroke FAST Program gets funding boost

Jun 24, 2016 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — For every minute of delay in treating a stroke, the victim loses 1.9 million brain cells, which is why BC Health Minister Terry Lake partnered with the BC Ambulance Service, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation to make a funding announcement today, at Royal Inland Hospital.

Lake was joined by the BC Ambulance honour guard, as well as neurologist Dr. Todd Collier, and the Hamer-Jackson family for the announcement – $600,000 to help fund the F.A.S.T. program, which spreads awareness about the importance of acting quickly if you suspect someone you’re with is having a stroke.

“When they understand the acronym [F.A.S.T.] and what it means, I think [stroke patients and their families] will give themselves license to call 911,” Lake said, at the announcement. “In the first year of the campaign, we saw an increase of 14 per cent in the number of 911 calls related to stroke. That means potentially hundreds of people were saved.”

Question of the Week

With B.C. moving to end the time change, do you prefer permanent Daylight Savings Time, permanent Standard Time, or the status quo?

Mar 02, 2026

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: What are we doing with the land in Kamloops?

Mar 02, 2026

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 2, 2026

Mar 02, 2026

Diana Hamer-Jackson suffered a stroke while at a family dinner. Her family noticed she was slurring her words, and immediately called 911. After spending months recovering, Diana, and two of her daughters attended the event today to share their story, and the importance of acting quickly once you recognize the signs of a stroke.

Dr. Todd Collier is a neurologist at Royal Inland Hospital. He says the stroke patient often convinces those around them they’re fine, which can make things worse in the long run.

“The actual number one barrier to people getting the care they need for stroke is not … recognizing those signs of stroke and not making that call for help,” Collier said. “we’ve done what we can in hospitals, we’ve done what we can in ambulances,  now we need patients to recognize stroke and call for help.”