Brave beautician's battle wins Stroke Award

At the age of 26 Sue Ross was an Account Manager for Christian Dior at Harvey Nichols in London, looking forward to continuing to provide beauty advice to the likes of Princess Diana. But one day in 1993 her life was dramatically turned upside down when she suddenly had a stroke. The effects of Sue's stroke were so severe that she needed 11 months of treatment in three different hospitals. Her tenacity and determination in rebuilding her life are being recognised at The Stroke Association's Life After Stroke Awards on Tuesday 26th April, where she will be receiving an Adult Courage Award.

The effects of Sue's stroke were severe. She could not move or talk and was unable to eat and breathe unaided. When she returned home, aged 28, she was still unable to walk. Sue found it hard to adjust to the effects of her stroke, particularly at such a young age, but realised she needed to take control of her life to truly recover. She started taking her physiotherapy seriously, put herself on a healthy eating plan and stopped drinking alcohol.

Twelve years on, Sue is still uses a wheelchair but she has made considerable progress since her stroke. She met her husband Stuart in 1999, and moved from her home in Hertfordshire to Liverpool to be with him. The couple married in 2003 and plan to have family together. Sue's personal experience also led to her qualifying as a counsellor to help support others who similarly find themselves with a sudden disability.

Sue is just one of the people who will be receiving a 2005 Life After Stroke Award from The Stroke Association, to commemorate her efforts in overcoming the effects of her stroke and rebuilding her life. She will join six other winners as they collect their awards at a star-studded ceremony, taking place in the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The Life After Stroke Awards, sponsored by Pfizer, were created by The Stroke Association as a way to celebrate the tremendous achievements and courage of people who have rebuilt their lives after their strokes or helped others to do the same as a carer or volunteer.

There are five different categories for the Life After Stroke Awards. This year's winners are as follows:

Courage Awards
· Children and Young people under 18 yrs category: Jacob Jackson, aged 6, Liversedge, West Yorkshire
· Adults aged 18-54 yrs category: Susan Ross, aged 38, Liverpool, Merseyside
· Adults aged 55 years category: Rod Sykes, aged 59 Lancaster

Carers' Award
Jo and Phil George, aged 59 and 61 years, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Susie Hulks Memorial Award for Art (awarded to stroke survivors who have expressed themselves creatively in the visual arts)
Steve Eastwood, aged 36, Stafford

Richard Thomas Community Award (recognising stroke survivors who have gone on to make a positive contribution to their community)
Linda Handy, aged 46, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire

Volunteer Award (awarded to outstanding volunteers of The Stroke Association who have demonstrated great dedication and compassion in supporting all stroke survivors)
Alan Rooney, aged 67, Manchester

The winners will all receive their awards at a ceremony being attended by stars including Barbara Windsor, Edwina Currie, Trevor Phillips, Paul Burrell, Phyllida Law, Honor Blackman and Prunella Scales.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association commented:

"Each year over 130,000 people in the UK are devastated by stroke. It takes courage, determination and sheer strength of will to overcome its effects, and the support of families, carers, volunteers and professionals. These seven remarkable individuals are a snapshot of the reality for stroke patients but they all show that there can be life after stroke. They are shining examples to us all.

I would like to congratulate all this year's winners of The Stroke Association's Life After Stroke Awards on their remarkable accomplishments and thank everyone who nominated someone they know for an award. There are many others out there whose lives have also been turned upside down but who through their own resolve have rebuilt their lives. They are all winners in our eyes.”

Notes to editor

1. For media enquiries, please contact the media team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 0328/1500 or e-mail press@stroke.org.uk. Please note that we have an ISDN facility. Stroke Information Help line: 0845 30 33 100

2. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

3. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke. The Stroke Association has nearly 3,000 volunteers working throughout England and Wales.

4. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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