Joseph Ashley, the husband of our founder and a

father to two children, was a unique individual

who stood out from the crowd. He had a distinct

taste in music, clothing, and nature that set him

apart from others. Despite his towering stature,

Joe was gentle, kind, and a devoted husband and

father. He struck the perfect balance between

being fun and protective, silly and calming with his

daughter, earning him the title of an amazing dad.

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Seven years ago, Joe went to his GP, and it was detected he had high blood pressure. After undergoing treatment and being advised to change his lifestyle and diet, he took control of his health and made significant changes. He swam regularly and improved his diet, resulting in some weight loss and a stable blood pressure reading. Unfortunately, he was never followed up or checked upon by medical professionals, a situation that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Fast forward 7 years later and six days before his son was due to be born, Joe started his day like any other. However, at 9:51 am, his wife Samantha received the worst call of her life. Joe had called and said, "I think I'm having a stroke." Despite efforts by his friends, work colleagues and medical personnel they managed to get him to an ambulance within 20 minutes, Joe's brain suffered extensive damage. He was transferred to The Walton Centre, where the true extent of the damage was revealed. Joe's family was informed of the grim prognosis, but they continued to give him support and care. 

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The doctors monitored Joe daily, but unfortunately, he was unable to regain consciousness due to the severe damage to his brain. After consulting with his family, they made the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw care and let him pass away peacefully. Joe's son was born during this difficult time, and he had the opportunity to meet his father before he passed away, leaving a massive void in his family's lives.

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To ensure that others do not suffer the same fate as Joe, Samantha set up The Joseph Ashley Project to raise awareness about the dangers of high blood pressure, particularly among younger generations who are often not targeted in medical campaigns. The younger generations often take their health for granted and are often left with the thought “that cannot and will not happen to me”. When in fact this cannot be further than the truth, it can and does happen to anyone at any age. The  charity will also commission the placement of health point check machines in accessible and convenient places to encourage people to check their blood pressure regularly. Joe, like many others, was reluctant to visit doctors or pharmacies regularly, but the availability of these machines could have enabled him to become more aware of his health status.

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In summary, Joe's passing was a devastating loss for his family, but his legacy lives on through The Joseph Ashley Project, which strives to educate and encourage people to take charge of their health and prevent the devastating consequences of high blood pressure. If you would like to join us in supporting our cause and donate please click here.