The Stroke Association’s upcoming documentary ‘When the Words Away Went’ is the focus of an integrated media campaign which will be shown across Channel 4.
The media campaign is being led by independent media agency The Kite Factory, and will feature four ad spots where 30- and 60-second trailers will promote the documentary and form part of the charity’s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign that spans PR, social and digital media.
The 50-minute observational documentary has been produced in partnership with RWD Films, part of Redwood BBDO, and closely follows the recovery journey of three stroke survivors living with aphasia.
Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain and causes difficulty in speaking or understanding others’ speaking.
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Stroke is the biggest cause of aphasia, with over a third (40%) of stroke survivors experiencing the condition, yet over half (54%) of the British public has never heard of the condition, according to new research conducted by the charity.
More recently, the condition hit the headlines after American actor Bruce Willis was forced to retire after being diagnosed in March 2022.
The documentary highlights the physical and mental challenges facing individuals living with aphasia and celebrates the creativity and resilience displayed by them and the support provided by their families, friends, and medical professionals.
RWD Films executive producer Ben Padfield said: “we felt truly privileged to be asked by Stroke Association to develop and produce such an important documentary.”
Stroke Association head of PR and media, Katie Taylor added that telling stroke survivors’ stories is “integral to our brand marketing strategy”
“This new approach has enabled us to truly show how challenging day-to-day life can be for those with aphasia.”
The Stroke Association documentary will be available from available from Friday 26 May at stroke.org.uk and streaming on Channel 4.
