Grade 1 and 2 students from St. Martin Elementary School recently celebrated the largest graduation class from the FAST Heroes program, a global health education initiative aimed at raising stroke awareness. This program, taught by a dedicated teacher, Jennifer Edwards, focuses on educating young students to recognize stroke symptoms, thereby helping protect their loved ones especially their grandparents – we call them grandheroes!

The graduation ceremony was supported by the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Superior North EMS. The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board (TBCDSB) has endorsed the FAST Heroes program since 2024, achieving significant success in equipping students with crucial knowledge about stroke symptoms. This initiative not only educates students but also fosters community-wide awareness that extends beyond the classroom.

In Canada, a stroke occurs every five minutes, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and timely medical intervention. With one in four adults likely to experience a stroke in their lifetime, early recognition of symptoms is critical. However, many people fail to identify these symptoms promptly, leading to delays in seeking treatment, which can significantly impactoutcomes. Stroke is one of the main reasons that children lose their grandparents! By encouraging students to take an active role at home to educate their families, the children can have more quality time together with their grandparents.

Congratulations to the TBCDSB, its elementary schools, principals, and teachers for implementing the FAST Heroes program and making a life-saving impact in your community.

FAST Heroes Grand Mission – together we can save the world one grandparent at a time.

Participation Success – Since March 2024, the FAST HEROES program in Canada has engaged 2,584 students, with the TBCDSB accounting for 27% of these student numbers.

Schools: 10
Teachers: 22
Classes: 35
Students: 696