This year, with the help of a printer and hard PR work the initiative was taken all the way to the Swedish Parliament. By printing every one of the now 216 000 signatures, and approaching both local, regional and national government and media with signatures from their county, city or region, we made each signature matter.

By making the digital signatures tangible (even in actual kilos) and by personally delivering them to specific decision-makers we made them hard to ignore.

In connection with International Stroke Day, we targeted 20 local, regional and national decision-makers and media with the statistics alongside personal signatures from the specific region stating the obvious need for better and equal rehabilitation. At the same time, we sent printed signatures to local, regional and national politicians to clarify the urgency of the issue and put pressure on those responsible. We put pressure on The Swedish Minister for Health, Gabriel Wikström to meet with representatives from the Swedish Brain Foundation to accept the printed signatures (weighing over 14 kilos) from the campaign. This in turn gave us access to national media.

Decision-makers all over the country raised the question on local government level and confirmed their support signing letters with their opposite hand to The Swedish Brain Foundation.

The Swedish Minister for Health met with representatives from The Swedish Brain Foundation, stating the importance of the issue and tweeted about it.

The initiative made it all the way to the Swedish Parliament as the major opposition party raised the question and put pressure on the Government to take action, citing the Swedish Brain Foundation.

Local, regional and national media put pressure on decision-makers demanding action. The measurable PR value amounted to 760 000+ Euro with an overwhelmingly positive sentiment.

As one of the minor fundraisers in Sweden, with little or no experience in public advocacy, The Swedish Brain Foundation, got to debate the issue and stroke policy on national TV.

Interest in The Swedish Brain Foundation increased by 89%.

But most importantly we made equal stroke rehab the concern of not only those who have suffered from a stroke but also the general public, the media and politicians with the power to bring about actual change.