A stroke survivor has been given a helping hand in the shape of a robotic glove.

Kerry Long, from Eastchurch on Sheppey, received the device thanks to a joint fundraiser between her family and members of Swale Stroke Group, who took part in a sponsored climb of the O2 Arena.

They raised £800 in total, £200 for the glove, with the rest going to the group, and surprised Kerry by handing it over on the day of the climb.

It was just over 10 years ago when, aged just 33 and living in Majorca which had been her home for more than a decade, she was struck down with a stroke.

She had been working as a waitress and bartender in Palma Nova and was living with her partner and three-year-old son, Ethan.

The stroke left her with serious communication and mobility problems and she remained in hospital for three months before being discharged in June 2014.

Kerry stayed in Majorca for another three years before moving back to Kent with her son, who is now 12 and goes to Oasis Academy in Sheerness.

Now aged 43 and still paralysed on the right side of her body, it is hoped the robotic glove will help her with everyday tasks.

Her auntie, Pauline Williams, joined in with the climb at the O2 in Greenwich on Monday, April 15.

She said: “Kerry saw a man on TV who was talking about how a robotic hand had changed his life after his hand was amputated.

“We thought it was worth a try as we try anything to make her life more comfortable.

“Because of the stroke, Kerry’s fingers are crunched up so the hand straightens them out for her which will make it easier for her to grip and pick up things.

“It is the simple things that we all take for granted that you need two hands for, like tying up shoe laces, tying a rubbish bag and cooking which we do for her.

“The tasks she can do also take her a lot more time as she is doing it one-handed.

“We are not expecting miracles and we aren’t sure what she will be able to do yet as it is trial and error but Kerry will not give up once she puts her mind to something.”

It was her aunt who persuaded Kerry to go to a Swale Stroke Group meeting at Hope Street Community Centre in Sheerness after spotting it online.

Although initially reluctant, thinking it would be “just old people”, she has regularly attended meetings since 2019.

The self-funded group was founded 15 years ago by another stroke survivor and now its chairman, Stewart Kitching, and is run by volunteers, many of whom have had a stroke.

It started with just three members but now has 50, most of who come from Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

The 66-year-old said: “We are all on the road to recovery, just some further along than others, and we go along this road together.

“We have people who have communication problems and physical problems, for example, we had three people who can hardly talk.

“But if you sit in your house on your own you can’t practice talking and working your brain, therefore when there are people working together it helps them a lot.

“It’s the social aspect that people love and it gets them talking.

“There are still people out there in their houses who still don’t know about us but we can help them.”

One of those who the group has helped is Gavin Dunn, who travels from Ashford with his mum, Frances and wife Victoria, to attend the morning meets.

Gavin was put in a coma for two weeks after his stroke and had major surgery on his skull to remove a blood clot.

The 52-year-old is supported by his wife but relies on a wheelchair to get around as he lost the use of the left side of his body.

He said: “I did not realise the amount of people who have had a stroke until I came here.

“It really helps me socialize with people who understand what I have been through as they have been through similar things themselves.”

One of the volunteers is Graham Rogers who was left in a coma for four months following a stroke on New Year’s Eve in 2017.

He was contacted by the group during his recovery at Sheppey Hospital and decided to become a volunteer.

The 56-year-old said: “When I came out of the comma I couldn’t talk but within two weeks I was mostly back to normal.

“It’s all about how fast you get seen. Thankfully I was taken to King’s Hospital and was having surgery within an hour and 45 minutes.

“Everyone who comes here has a story and can share their experiences.”

To contact the group call 01795 437569.