The road to a Gold Award ...
A Stroke of Kindness
Bianca Li, an Ambassador Girl Scout, used her Gold Award
project to teach senior citizens about the risk factors and signs
of strokes.
According to the American Stroke Association, strokes are the
fifth highest cause of death – and a leading cause of disability –
in the United States.
Bianca knows personally about the seriousness of strokes
because the disease affected both sides of her family. Since this
was a very personal subject to her, she believed that arming senior
citizens with critical information could help save their lives.
She designed her Gold Award project, A Stroke of Kindness, to teach senior
citizens about strokes – including how to recognize risk factors, as well as signs
and symptoms associated with them. Bianca developed a five-day program
at Redstone Highlands senior living community in Murrysville that combined
presentations and fun activities, including:
• basic information surrounding strokes: what they are; how to recognize
one; and what makes someone more susceptible to them (with the help
of medical expert, Dr. Seth Lichtenstein, a neurologist at Forbes Regional
Hospital);
• an activity that challenged the senior citizens’ minds and reduced stress
through a fun game (two key steps in stroke prevention);
• a talk on stroke prevention with Jeff Pope, recipient of the Pennsylvania
Senior Hero Award, member of the American Legion, and stroke survivor, who
shared his personal experience of recovering from a stroke; and
• a relaxing music concert for the seniors to help reduce stress. The residents
were able to hear the incredible musical talent of all of the performers while
enjoying an afternoon of relaxing piano, clarinet and vocal performances.
“I can honestly say
that being a Girl
Scout has been
one of the most
influential and
transformative
experiences of
my life.”
– Bianca Li
The impact of Bianca’s Gold Award will benefit the residents for years to come.
Bianca is the daughter of Ming Li
and Bing Gao from Murrysville. She
graduates from Franklin Regional
High School in 2015.
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