"We are looking back on more than 10 years of foundation work. In all these years we have been committed to fight against the stroke together in alliances with representatives from areas including politics, health, medical care, business, culture and sciences. Many volunteers throughout Germany have enriched our initiative by their voluntary social engagement for affected people. I thank all those who contributed to the successful work of the German Stroke Foundation. In the face of such great support and innovative initiatives I am confidently looking forward to the next years."

(Liz Mohn, President of the German Stroke Foundation)

The German Stroke Foundation

The German Stroke Foundation was founded in 1993 under the patronage of Liz Mohn after experiencing a case of illness within her own family. Liz Mohn is the wife of Reinhard Mohn, entrepreneur and founder of the Bertelsmann Foundation.

It is an independent and non-profit welfare organization, dedicated only to the objectives set out in the Articles to prevent strokes and contribute to the improvement of care for stroke patients.

The German Stroke Foundation views itself as primary contact for issues related to vascular disease and stroke in particular.

The range of its services comprises information, education and advisory functions as well as promotion of research and training for health care professions. The Foundation supports health promotion and the improvement of preventive care, acute care and rehabilitation for stroke patients.

It coordinates activities with regard to the different facets of stroke on a national and international level. In particular, it links and supports exemplary programs. The Foundation promotes measures to assure and improve the quality of stroke care by the nation-wide establishment of stroke units and the creation of a constant care chain.  Articles (5 MB) (german)

Facts and figures about strokes that underscore the important work done by the German Stroke Foundation:

• Each year, more than 200,000 people in Germany suffer a stroke.
• Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Germany.
• The likelihood of a stroke increases as we age. In 2000 individuals over the age of 65 made up approximately 16 percent of the population in Germany. Demographic projections indicate that the corresponding percentage in the year 2030 will be roughly 33 percent. Accordingly, the incidence of strokes can be expected to rise in the coming decades.
• Thirty-seven percent of stroke victims die within one year.
• Seventy percent of survivors remain disabled for a substantial period of time.
• Sixty-four percent of surviving stroke patients are still in need of care one year later; of that group, approximately 15 percent require nursing home care.