By Charlene Macaulay
A Hoppers Crossing woman who has been diagnosed with two brain aneurysms is using her condition to help others.
Maya Cremers has spent the past two years selling branded pens and craft items she made to raise $10,000 for the Stroke Foundation through her Facebook group, Brain Aneurysm Support Australia.
Ms Cremers set up the group when she was first diagnosed with the aneurysms, which she describes as “two little ticking timebombs”, in May 2011 after she underwent testing because of frequent migranes.
A brain aneurysm occurs when a weak area in a brain artery bulges and fills with blood. If it leaks or ruptures, it causes bleeding into the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke.
“Of course, the world fell out from under me,” she said.
“I hate the unknown. So I decided … to search and search until I could find something that explained what it was, were there any other people I could talk to, and I found nothing along the second line of thought.”
So, she set up her own group. Then, when someone brought up how they could donate, Ms Cremers found herself fundraising.
She has already raised $1000 towards the next $10,000 she plans on donating to the Stroke Foundation, and said she would continue fundraising in $10,000 blocks.
Details: www.facebook.com/basa.com.au
