RANDY AND MARY TRAVIS TO SHARE THEIR INSPIRING STORY AND RAISE STROKE AWARENESS IN BEND

Hayden Homes is proud to present May 13 special event at Westside Church in partnership with Stroke Awareness Oregon

Bend, Ore., May 7, 2024—Stroke Awareness Oregon and Hayden Homes are proud to bring Randy and Mary Travis to Westside Church in Bend on May 13 to share their intimate story of how one of country music’s greatest stars experienced a debilitating stroke and then battled back to become an inspiration to stroke survivors and their families.

But the evening is about so much more than stroke. All of us face some sort of challenge in our lives and this special event seeks to provide everyone with motivation to find our own source of resilience and grit in the face of hardship.

While the event is not a Randy Travis concert, the evening will begin with music from one of Central Oregon’s most beloved bands–The Soul Benders–led by Steve Boatwright, who has toured with renowned acts like Santana, Stevie Nicks, and Chuck Berry. A special highlight of the evening will be a live auction of a Breedlove guitar autographed by Randy and Mary Travis.

“We are so deeply touched that Hayden Homes and the Travis’ chose to partner with Stroke Awareness Oregon to bring this one of a kind event to our community,” said Interim Executive Director of Stroke Awareness Oregon Carol Stiles. “We know that the majority of strokes are preventable if families know the signs–we hope this event helps us educate and save lives right here in Central Oregon.”

Strokes are the leading cause of disability worldwide. Most strokes happen in older adults, although 10 percent of strokes do occur in people younger than 45, and that number is on the rise. A remarkable 80 percent of strokes are preventable if people are educated on the signs and seek medical care right away.

For Hayden Homes, the impact of stroke is personal. Two years ago, a 30-year veteran team member of the company, Kimberly, experienced a life-altering event when her husband, Harold, endured a series of strokes over a three-week period.

The strokes put Harold in the hospital for six weeks and left him with ataxia– which occurs in two percent of stroke patients–causing lack of balance, speech loss, and limited core movement that hampered Harold’s ability to walk. These new challenges turned Kimberly and Harold’s life upside down, but they felt hope when they returned home from the hospital to find a new wheelchair ramp, which had been constructed and installed by team members from Hayden Homes.

“I wouldn’t be here or be able to do all the things that I need to do if it wasn’t for my Hayden Homes Family,” said Kimberly. “I will never be able to repay everyone for the love and support we have received on this journey.”

To help raise awareness of stroke and to support Kimberly and Harold, in 2023 Hayden Homes presented a check to SAO for $100,000 representing a four-year commitment of funding to the organization. 

 “We are so grateful to be able to support SAO and help bring Randy and Mary Travis to Central Oregon for this special event,” said Deb Flagan, vice president of community engagement and giving with Hayden Homes. “This event is a chance to raise awareness and much-needed funds to help prevent others from being impacted or losing their loved ones to the heartbreaking effects of stroke.”

Event Details:

• Doors at 6 p.m. Event from 7-9 p.m.
• Monday, May 13
• Westside Church, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Road, in Bend
• $40 general admission, $100 premium seating
• ADA accessible seating available

To purchase tickets visit strokeawarenessoregon.org.