Stroke-Prevention Group Gears Up For Milestone Event

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - A Montgomery County-based non-profit dedicated to reducing the incidence and impact of strokes is gearing up for a milestone event.

One week from Sunday, the Delaware Valley Stroke Council will mark its 20th annual Strides for Stroke, a 5k run and walk designed to raise money to help educate the community about strokes. It's the number one cause of adult disabilities, the number four cause of death, but 80 percent preventable if detected early.

Toby Mazer, the organization's founder says, "You don't call family, you don't call friends, you don't drive yourself to the hospital. You immediately call 911."

Mazer says there's a four-hour window of opportunity to get to the hospital and start clot-busting medications that can reduce the severity of the stroke, but she says only five percent of the community gets into that treatment protocol because there's a lack of awareness and education. The money raised remains in the Philadelphia region.