Who we are

I am a wife, very proud mum of 2 and Grammy to my 3-year-old granddaughter. My brother John had a stroke aged just 22, it was a life-changing event for him and for us as a family. No one ever sat me down at the age of 20 to explain what a stroke was, that it affected the brain and everything else related. Sadly, my brother passed away at the age of 42, not due to the stroke, but my curiosity about stroke was ignited, what was this event that had turned our world upside down? I have now worked with stroke survivors, their families and carers for the past 14 years providing support. I have also taken part in challenges like the London to Paris cycle, London to Amsterdam cycle and the Jersey Marathon raising funds for stroke. Information and support are key so that not only stroke survivors, but their family and carers get the support they need when they need it or they know how to access support. I am passionate about raising awareness about stroke and stroke prevention, I also want to debunk the myths around stroke. Jersey Stroke Support is a local charity where money raised on Island stays on Island and was borne due to a gap in Jersey for stroke survivors to receive a holistic post-stroke review - which the charity now offers. We will make a difference.

I recently retired after spending more than 40 years working in the financial services sector, with the past 25 years based in the Channel Islands. I consider myself a team player who thrives on working with colleagues and solving problems together. In retirement, I’m looking forward to spending more time in the garden, walking my dog, Hetty, and improving my golf handicap!

I am a Jerseyman, born and educated in the Island and an accountant and director/owner of Alex Picot Trust, a private client trust company. I am married with six children and a keen sportsman, having represented the Island at badminton and shooting on many occasions. Knowing the impact that strokes have on Island I was keen to assist setup the Charity having known Tracy for many years.

I have worked in finance for 30 years in different roles including a Trust Director at Ernst & Young and an Investment Director at Canaccord Wealth Management. In August 2022 I had a significant stroke and was flown to Southampton Hospital for a thrombectomy. Having recovered movement in my right arm and my leg after the operation, I still couldn’t speak. I had speech therapy for over 8 months and in May 2023 I had a hole in my heart fixed, which was the cause of my stroke. In May of 2024 I was diagnosed with epilepsy which is caused by the scarring on my brain The board brought me on as a director for Jersey Stroke Support in December 2023. It is a charity that is close to my heart, and I’m indebted to them for all of their support and advice after my stroke. I want to give something in return for stroke survivors in the future. In April 2024 I ran the Brighton marathon (a personal best) to raise funds for the charity. Running is my thing!

I am Primary School teacher and have lived all my life in Jersey. At the age of 29 I suffered a stroke. It happened completely out of the blue. Over the last 16 years I have packed as much into my life as possible. I’ve cycled from London to Paris, and from London to Amsterdam. I’ve completed the Jersey Marathon and took part in two Overseas aid groups to Nepal and Uganda. I have also travelled many parts of the world by myself. My life now is not what I dreamed it would be when I was a little girl, but I can safely say that if it wasn’t for my stroke, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have! In time I have learnt to accept that I lost some things but gained so much more. Being involved in Jersey Stroke Support is the icing on my slightly nutty (but not yet cooked properly) fruit cake. Life after a stroke takes a whole bowlful of understanding, cups of determination and maybe a tablespoon or two of stubbornness! But without rest, support, and a nudge in the right direction from people around you, the rest of the ingredients will never mix. You’ve got to take the ups with the downs, the good with the bad and the highs with the lows. 16 years later, it is still not all plain sailing for me. In my role as one of the directors of Jersey Stroke Support, I want to be there for people who have suffered a stroke and for members of their family. When I was at my lowest point ten years ago this is the vision, I dreamed of. I wanted to be part of a charity that made a difference. I wanted to get to the point where I was able to share my experience of Stroke with others and more importantly, I wanted to raise awareness and support people who have had a stroke, so that their journey through the ups and downs of life after stroke would be ‘ok’. I didn’t want others to find dealing with life after a stroke as tricky as I found it. Survivors of stroke have an unspoken bond. We simply get each other.

I’m the Global Managing Partner of Bedell Cristin - a calm and highly professional leader who sets a clear tone of competency in every client interaction and works hard to build rapport.