Sample letter to local media

You could send a similar letter to the editor of your local paper / presenter on local radio. Personalise the letter by including extra information in the areas marked with 'xxx'.

Dear XXX [include the Editor’s/Presenter’s name here],

I am writing to you to tell you about an issue which is very important to me. Explain here how you, or members of your family, have been affected by stroke.

I think that many of your readers/listeners will also have been affected by stroke during their lives. Stroke kills more than 2,000 people a year in Ireland – a higher death toll than from breast cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer combined. It is also the biggest cause of acquired disability.

It is essential that people who have strokes can access high quality services which can treat them and enable them to return to health. Unfortunately, the services currently provided for stroke patients in Ireland are very limited. Here in XXX[insert name of area] it is no different – we don’t have the services which could prevent strokes, save people’s lives and ensure that people do not have major disabilities as a result of their strokes. Include here any information that you have about the types of services which are required in your area.

I wanted to bring this matter to your attention as I believe stroke is a topic which would be of interest to the people who read your paper/listen to your show and I know that I would welcome reading articles/listening to programmes about it in the future.

I would be happy to speak to your paper about my experiences, if this would be useful.

 Yours sincerely,

XXX [Include your full name and contact details, including telephone number here.]