Stroke survivors and their caregivers will be celebrated on the dance floor Thursday, Nov. 5, when the Stroke Life Center holds its Thriving Like a Star fundraising gala at The Stranahan Great Hall in Toledo, according to the Stroke Life Center. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. and the gala at 6 p.m., with formal attire suggested, the center said.
Thriving Like a Star is a dance-inspired gala built around a local celebrity dance competition, a spin on Dancing with the Stars, according to the Stroke Life Center. Toledo-area celebrities will perform live alongside professional dancers from DanceFam Ballroom & Latin Studio, and guests will vote for their favorite pair through Audience Choice voting, the center said.
Every ticket helps fund the center’s no-cost programs, including physical therapy, speech therapy, aqua therapy, art therapy and caregiver support, according to the Stroke Life Center. The center describes itself as one of the nation’s only post-rehab life-skills communities, offering therapy-inspired classes and caregiver support with no fees and no barriers.
The evening also includes a silent auction, a 360 photo booth and inspiring stories from stroke survivors, according to the center. The event is presented by Mercy Health, with 13abc as media partner and DanceFam Ballroom & Latin Studio as entertainment partner, the center said. Free parking is available at the hall, and the venue is fully wheelchair accessible.
For survivors across Northwest Ohio, the center says its work begins where rehab ends: classes that rebuild strength, restore voices and spark confidence, and a community where survivors find purpose and friendship long after formal treatment stops. Money raised on Nov. 5 goes directly to keeping those programs free for survivors and caregivers.
What happens next is gala night itself on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Stranahan. The Stroke Life Center says tickets are transferable but non-refundable, and people who cannot attend can still make a gift in honor of a survivor, support a dancer, or donate an auction item.
Photo: MrJacon000, CC BY-SA