Last Friday, more than two dozen participants strolled along the Harborwalk, took part in a seated chair yoga class, and explored the New England Aquarium during the Waterfront Wellness Day. More importantly, they had a chance to connect with other stroke survivors and learn about helpful resources. 

The event is the result of a collaboration between Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery at the MGH Institute, the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront, and the New England Aquarium. After holding the event for the first time last year, Tedy’s Team Center expanded this year’s event to include more than twice as many participants and also invited other organizations that support stroke survivors to take part.

“All of the organizations involved have the same goal —to improve wellness and community participation for people with disabilities,” explained Gwen Larsen, Community Outreach Coordinator for Tedy’s Team Center, which aims to improve the lives of people with stroke through community education, research, and rehabilitation services. “The Wellness Day provides opportunities for socialization and organized activities in a supportive environment.”

Stroke survivors are not as physically active compared with people who are not affected by stroke. Social participation is also restricted following a stroke. Both are viewed by stroke survivors as important to their recovery. 

Participants said Wellness Day helps with recovery because it allows for socialization with others who are also dealing with a stroke, gets them out into the community, exposes them to resources they didn’t know existed, and is motivational. 

“I hear what other survivors have been able to do after their recovery,” said a stroke survivor. “It encourages me to know what I can possibly do after.”

Larsen worked closely with Luz Arregoces, Director of Community Engagement at the New England Aquarium, and Ian Karby, Project Manager for the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront and a 2021 graduated of the MGH Institute’s DPT program, to organize the event. \

Volunteers included current DPT students Abbey Kroll (class of 2026) and Christine Kane (class of 2025); alums Samantha Nahill, a 2021 DPT graduate, and Saloni Doshi, who received a certificate of advanced study in orthopaedics in 2011; and Kim Newby, a stroke survivor who has run marathons with Tedy’s Team to raise funds that in part support the Center of Excellence.